The Test That Changed Everything: Laxman Reflects on the Miracle of Eden Gardens
In March 2001 at Eden Gardens, one of cricket’s greatest turnarounds unfolded when India, following on 274 runs behind against a dominant Australian side, produced a historic victory. At the heart of that miracle was VVS Laxman’s majestic 281 and his unforgettable 376-run partnership with Rahul Dravid. Reflecting on the drama, resilience and belief that defined the match, Laxman tells Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, about the moments that transformed not just a Test, but the mindset of an entire Indian team.
Boria: India ended Day 2 on 128–8 and I remember walking back from Eden Gardens thinking all was done. No one believed what had happened and no one could anticipate what was to come. What was your thought process? How important was the first-innings 59?
Laxman: When India were 128–8, most people had understandably written the game off. Steve Waugh’s Australian team had dominated the match and were in a very strong position. But inside our dressing room, the feeling was simple: we just had to keep fighting. Test cricket often rewards patience and persistence, and as long as you are at the crease, there is always a chance to turn things around.
Personally, the 59 in the first innings was important for me. It wasn’t a big score, but it helped me find some rhythm against a high-quality attack featuring Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne. Against bowlers of that calibre, you have to stay mentally switched on all the time.
Steve Waugh spread the field and wanted to keep me off strike, hoping the lower order would be dismissed quickly. My focus therefore was to manage the strike well. I tried to farm the strike as much as possible, but also looked for opportunities to pierce the gaps and pick up boundaries even with the field spread. That innings helped me settle in and gave me confidence going into the second innings.
Boria: When were you told to bat at No. 3 and how did it happen?
Laxman: It happened right at the end of our first innings. I had just walked into the dressing room and was taking off my pads when John Wright came up to me and said he wanted me to bat at No. 3 in the second innings. The idea was to send someone in early who could counter the Australian attack and try to shift the momentum.
For me, it felt like an opportunity more than anything else. Batting at No. 3 had always been my favourite position because it allows you to influence the game early and set the tone for the innings. In a challenging situation like the one we were in, I saw it as a chance to step up, embrace responsibility and contribute in a way that could inspire the team. Sometimes those moments of pressure are also the moments that give you the greatest opportunity to make a difference.
Boria: At 254–4 on Day 3, it was still beyond India. You had already scored a hundred. What was the mindset ahead of Day 4?
Laxman: Even at that stage, we knew the match was far from safe. Australia were still ahead, so Rahul and I spoke about one clear goal: batting time. We decided not to think about the scoreboard but to break the day into small phases, starting with getting through the first session without losing a wicket as they were operating with the new ball.
Tactically, we were aware of how they were trying to dismiss us. McGrath was testing that channel outside off stump, Gillespie was hitting the deck hard and Warne was looking to exploit the rough outside the leg stump. The plan was to minimise risk by leaving well, playing late and cashing in on any opportunities offered. We also felt that if we could keep them in the field long enough, the pressure would slowly shift. In Test cricket, time at the crease can change the momentum, and that was the mindset going into Day 4.
Boria: To play Shane Warne off the rough and dance down the track to score boundaries in the mid-wicket region was just incredible. These are Sourav’s words. How did you make it happen?
Laxman: In Hyderabad, I was fortunate to face some very good spinners in the nets. Those sessions were extremely valuable because they helped me develop methods against quality spin, such as trusting my defence, using my feet, playing from the depth of the crease and learning to read variations from the hand. Of course, nothing can truly replicate the skill and variation of someone like Warne, but regularly facing quality spin certainly helped build the confidence and clarity needed to counter him in matches.
At the same time it was important to have a positive mindset and not allow someone like Warne to settle into a rhythm. When I chose to step out, the key was to get to the pitch of the ball and smother the spin, which allowed me to play shots both with and against the spin.
Boria: Tell us about the partnership with Rahul.
Laxman: That partnership with Rahul Dravid is something I will always cherish. Rahul and I had shared some memorable partnerships right from our age-group cricket. In fact, just about a month before that Test, we had put together a 300-run stand for South Zone against West Zone in the Duleep Trophy.
But here, the situation was completely different. The match was in a grim position and when he came in at No. 6, he was incredibly calm and professional.
We understood exactly what the team needed and focused purely on the job at hand. Our conversations were mostly about staying patient, being proactive when the opportunity came and breaking the day into small passages. Mentally, we were very clear and broke the innings into small targets – the next hour, the next drinks break, the next session. The key was to keep supporting each other and keep the scoreboard moving.
Boria: You and Rahul were on drips at the end of the day.
Laxman: Two days before the Test, my back went into a severe spasm and I could barely move. The credit for getting me onto the field really goes to our physio Andrew Leipus. He worked tirelessly, giving me treatment, stretching the muscles and helping manage the pain. Even though I was probably only about 50–60% fit, both Sourav and John felt I should play the Test.
For the entire match, I wasn’t physically comfortable. Every movement reminded me of the pain in my back, but when you are representing your country you simply find a way to endure it – the mind becomes stronger than the body.
Even Rahul came into the Test with a viral fever and was also dealing with cramping. With the conditions being hot and humid, and both of us losing a lot of fluids, Andrew felt it was important that we stay hydrated and recover properly for the next day, which is why we were put on drips.
Boria: When did you start to believe you could win the game?
Laxman: Even though it was always going to be a tough challenge, Australia still had tremendous depth in their batting. While Harbhajan was building relentless pressure with the ball, the Australians were still finding ways to score, so the game was very much in the balance.
The belief really started to grow stronger after tea when Sachin produced that magical spell and picked up three crucial wickets in quick succession. Those breakthroughs shifted the momentum of the game. Suddenly Australia were under real pressure and you could sense the energy lift among all of us. Everyone was sharper, diving for half-chances and celebrating every small moment.
By then, the atmosphere at Eden Gardens had become electric. That was the phase when it slowly began to sink in that something truly special was unfolding and that what once seemed impossible might actually become possible.
Boria: Was 300 ever on your mind?
Laxman: Honestly, it never really crossed my mind. At that stage, the only focus was on batting as long as possible and building the partnership with Rahul. The situation of the match demanded complete concentration on the present, and playing each ball on its merit.
Once you get into that kind of rhythm, personal milestones tend to fade into the background. The priority was always the team and putting us in a position where we could challenge Australia, and not give them an opening to get back into the game.
Boria: A word on Harbhajan. A young man who bowled like a miracle.
Laxman: Harbhajan was simply outstanding throughout that Test. From the very first innings, he bowled with tremendous heart and energy, constantly challenging the strong Australian batting line-up. His ability to extract bounce, turn and maintain relentless pressure made a huge difference to the match.
What stood out most was his fighting spirit. Even though he was relatively young at that stage, he showed remarkable maturity and confidence, never shying away from the challenge. Performances like that don’t just change a match – they lift the entire team and give everyone the belief that something special is possible. For us, his spell was truly one of the defining moments of that historic Test.
Boria: What were the celebrations like? Sourav said that after this match the dressing room believed they could win the series. What was your mindset?
Laxman: It had a significant impact on the mindset of our team. Until then, sides like Australia often seemed almost unbeatable once they gained momentum. That Test reminded us that in cricket, no situation is completely lost if you stay patient and keep competing.
Coming back from the follow-on against a team of that quality and winning the match left a lasting impression on everyone in the dressing room. It strengthened the belief within the group and gave us a powerful reference point for the future.
Whenever we faced pressure situations later on, we knew we had already overcome something far more challenging. On an individual level too, it helped players trust their ability to perform under pressure and remain calm in difficult moments. Gradually, it nurtured a mindset where resilience, belief and the willingness to fight through every session became an important part of the identity of our team.
In many ways that Test was not just about winning a match or a series – it helped shape the confidence with which we approached challenges as a team going forward.
Boria: Is this the best game you have ever played or seen?
Laxman: It is certainly one of the most special and memorable matches I have been part of. The circumstances, the quality of the opposition in Australia and the way the game unfolded over five days made it truly remarkable.
To follow on and then come back to win a Test match is rare in itself, but to do it against a team of that calibre and one that had 16 consecutive wins made it even more significant.
I have been fortunate to witness and play in many wonderful matches, but the Test at Eden Gardens in 2001 will always remain right at the top because of the drama, the resilience shown by the team and the impact it had on us as Indian cricketers.
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