On This Day In 2001 Cricket: The date March 14, 2001, is a special one in Indian cricket’s folklore for the epic knocks and partnership between batting legends Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman during the Kolkata
Test of the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
With their team down and out in the Test match against the mighty Aussies, on this day, Laxman and Dravid produced a stand for the ages and led a remarkable turnaround that eventually helped India win at the Eden Gardens.
Having bundled out the Indians for only 171 in response to their 445 in the first innings, the Steve Waugh-led Australian side enforced the follow-on. Already 1-0 up in the three-match series, the Aussies would’ve felt they stood on the brink of conquering their final frontier when they dismissed maestro Sachin Tendulkar for 10 and reduced India to 115 for 3.
Even as the gritty Laxman shared a defiant 117-run partnership with skipper Saurav Ganguly, India were still trailing Australia by 42 when an out-of-form Rahul Dravid walked in at No.6.
Demoted down the order after his recent struggles with the bat, Dravid proved to be a resurgent warrior who stitched the defining partnership of the game with the very, very special Laxman.
Facing the likes of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, Laxman unleashed his range of mesmerising strokes and soon crossed over the three-figure mark for a knock that reminded everyone of a similar ton in Sydney a year back.
On the other end, Dravid brought all his resolve and technical precision to the crease and batted with great solidity and composure.
For the first time in the series, India managed to put the pressure back on the Australians. Especially after Laxman managed to completely disrupt Warne, hitting the legendary wrist-spinner to both sides of the wicket with his flexible and strong wrists and magnificent footwork.
Dravid also made sure he negotiated McGrath’s threat. He brought up his comeback hundred, raising his bat aloft to the media centre at the Eden Gardens after proving a point to his critics.
Together, the ‘Wall’ and his Hyderabadi mate turned the Test on its head after being put under extreme pressure against high-class bowling on a Day 3-4 surface at the Eden Gardens while also battling physical discomfort and fatigue under scorching heat.
While Dravid scored a fantastic 180 off 353 deliveries, Laxman went on to register the then-highest Indian individual score in Test cricket with his 281. He missed out on the first Indian triple ton by just 19 runs as India ultimately declared at 657/7, overhauling Australia by 383 runs.
Later, turbanator Harbhajan Singh’s 6 for 73 and Tendulkar’s crucial breakthroughs in his 3 for 31 spell helped India pull off an unbelievable victory by 171 runs on Day 5. India became only the third team ever to win a Test match after being asked to follow on.
