In cricket’s long and storied history, few innings have altered the course of a match, a series, or even the perception of an entire cricketing nation. Yet, when VVS Laxman left the field on the final day of the breathtaking, almost implausible Test in Kolkata in March 2001, his 281 was already more than just an innings. It was a statement, an artistic masterpiece, and a historic inflexion point for Indian cricket.
For all the inconsistencies in his performances, Laxman was
a batsman whose brilliance, when at its peak, was as sublime as any of his
celebrated peers. His stroke play, wristy and supple, was imbued with an
elegance that defied aggression, an aesthetic counterpoint to the brute force
often associated with match-winning knocks. And yet, for all his undeniable
talent, he had faced questions over his place in the side, oscillating between
moments of genius and periods of struggle.
His greatest innings came against Australia—an opponent he
repeatedly tormented throughout his career. By the time he retired in 2012, six
of his 17 Test centuries had come against them, a testament to his ability to
rise against the best. But never was his impact greater than at Eden Gardens,
where he and Rahul Dravid produced an act of defiance so unthinkable that it left
an indelible mark on Test cricket’s collective memory.
The Context:
Australia’s Final Frontier
The Australian team that arrived in India for the
three-match series in 2001 was, by every measure, one of the greatest to ever
play the game. Steve Waugh’s men were riding a world-record streak of 15
consecutive Test victories, having bulldozed opponents across continents. Their
ambition was not just to win but to conquer, to claim victory in India—the
‘final frontier’ that Waugh had spoken of with determination.
The first Test in Mumbai had reinforced their dominance,
with Australia securing a comprehensive innings victory inside three days. The
signs in Kolkata suggested more of the same.
After winning the toss, Australia’s openers, Matthew Hayden
and Michael Slater, got their team off to a strong start, putting up a 103-run
partnership. Though India fought back with Harbhajan Singh’s memorable
hat-trick—dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Shane Warne in quick
succession—Waugh’s century pushed the visitors to a formidable 445.
Faced with this imposing total, India’s batting crumbled
under the relentless pressure of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, and Warne. At
the close of the second day, the hosts were teetering at 128 for 8, still 118
runs short of avoiding the follow-on.
Laxman, however, had shown a glimpse of his class, scoring a
fluent 59 while those around him fell apart. It was a knock that carried the
promise of more, but even the most optimistic Indian supporter could not have
foreseen what was about to unfold.
A Decision That
Altered Cricketing History
When India’s first innings ended at 171 early on Day 3,
Waugh enforced the follow-on—a decision that would later be debated endlessly.
At the time, it seemed the obvious call. Only twice in Test history had a team
won after being made to follow on. With Australia’s bowling attack in prime
form, it seemed only a matter of time before another crushing victory was
secured.
India’s openers provided some early resistance before Laxman
walked in at No. 3, a tactical promotion from his usual position at No. 6. What
followed was not just an innings but a transformation—of the match, of Indian
cricket, and of Laxman’s career itself.
The Masterpiece
Unfolds
Laxman’s batting was effortless yet authoritative. His
placement was surgical, his wristwork mesmerizing. He scored freely against the
quicks, manoeuvring McGrath and Gillespie with an ease that bordered on
audacity. Against Warne, he was even more ruthless. The great leg-spinner had
built his reputation tormenting batsmen on turning tracks, but here he found
himself at the receiving end of an onslaught he could neither predict nor
contain.
Laxman’s ability to drive Warne inside-out through the
off-side and flick him against the turn through midwicket defied conventional
wisdom. Most batsmen struggled merely to survive against Warne’s wizardry, yet
Laxman attacked him with a calculated grace that left the Australian legend
bereft of answers.
When he reached his hundred, India was still far from
safety. But in Dravid, who had endured criticism for his poor form, he found an
ally whose resilience matched his own artistry. Together, they turned the game
on its head.
A Day That Defied
Cricketing Logic
By the end of Day 3, India had reached 252 for 4, with
Laxman unbeaten on 109. For all its brilliance, his innings still appeared to
be one of defiance rather than resurgence. India was merely delaying the
inevitable—or so it seemed.
But then came Day 4, a day of sheer perfection. Laxman and
Dravid batted from start to finish without giving Australia even the slightest
chance. They added 335 runs in a single day. It was batting of the highest
order—an unbroken partnership that grew into a towering monolith of concentration,
endurance, and relentless strokeplay.
The Australians tried everything. The quicks altered their
lengths and angles; the spinners bowled wider and flatter. Nine different
bowlers, including Hayden, were thrown into the attack in desperation. But
nothing worked.
By the time Laxman crossed 236—breaking Sunil Gavaskar’s
record for the highest individual score by an Indian—the crowd at Eden Gardens
had transformed from anxious spectators into an uncontrollable wave of
celebration. The stadium shook with every run, every boundary. The sheer
improbability of what was unfolding heightened the drama.
When Laxman finally fell for 281 on the morning of the fifth day, the match had already turned decisively in India’s favour. Dravid followed soon after for 180, and India declared at 657 for 7, a lead of 383.
“I never realized that at the end of the day, I would walk
away with valuable life lessons,” Laxman told Sportstar in an interview.
“Lessons from a game I loved so much. Even now, when I reflect on that epic
day, it sometimes feels surreal.” Yet, in the grand theatre of cricket, where
many fierce battles had been fought, this one was as real as it could get.
Laxman emerged as a modern-day warrior, his batting reaching extraordinary
heights.
“The day is fresh in my mind. The match is fresh,” Laxman
recalled. “That success set a new benchmark for me. Of course, it was a team
effort, but personally, I formed memories that have stayed with me forever. It
felt like everyone in the dressing room and all those watching at Eden Gardens
were in a trance.”
Laxman and Rahul Dravid stitched together a historic 376-run
partnership for the fifth wicket, orchestrating one of the greatest comebacks
in cricket history. Australia, dominant up to that point, had enforced the
follow-on after India conceded a first-innings lead of 274 runs. At the start
of the fourth day, India stood at 254 for four, still in a precarious
position.
“We focused on surviving hour by hour,” Laxman said.
“Starting afresh helped us. Rahul and I decided that the Australians would have
to earn our wickets.” As the innings progressed, the Australians began to
realize that dislodging them would not be easy. “We rotated the strike, which
kept us engaged and focused,” he added. “With every passing break and session,
our confidence grew.”
Not losing a wicket in the first session of the fourth day
was a huge boost. When Laxman had been dismissed as the last man in India’s
first innings, coach John Wright had asked him to “keep the pads on” since
Australia had enforced the follow-on. Wright had already decided to push Laxman
to No. 3, knowing that he had spent considerable time at the crease.
“I loved the challenge and the idea,” Laxman admitted. “We battled through the first two sessions, but post-tea, things became incredibly tough. Rahul was cramping, dehydration was sapping our energy, and I was struggling with back spasms that limited my shot-making. But we refused to lose a wicket, motivating each other constantly. We endured the physical pain because we knew Australia could bounce back from any position.”
Personal milestones kept coming, but neither batsman lost
sight of the bigger picture. “We were determined not to throw our wickets
away,” Laxman said. “By the end of the day, we were mentally and physically
drained, but returning unbeaten was immensely satisfying.”
No one in the team had foreseen such a dramatic
turnaround—an entire day without losing a wicket against an all-conquering
Australian side. The resilience stunned the visitors. That day, Laxman and
Dravid cemented their place in cricketing folklore.
“Normally, Rahul doesn’t show too much emotion, but he kept
encouraging me throughout,” Laxman recalled. “We kept reminding each other not
to get complacent. A day like that happens once in a lifetime, and we wanted to
make the most of it. We never let our guard down. By the end, the pressure was
on the Australians, and we knew we had a real chance to dictate the outcome. At
the very least, we were no longer going to lose the match, which meant the
series was still alive after our loss in the first Test.”
Laxman stressed that this was no individual triumph—it was a collective effort. “Everyone played a role. The substitute fielder, Hemang Badani, took a brilliant catch to dismiss Steve Waugh. Our physio, Andrew Leipus, ensured we could keep going despite the physical toll. Everyone contributed in their own way. Looking back, it felt like destiny had chosen that game to be a special one for every single member of the team.”
The Final Twist:
India Completes the Miracle
Australia, chasing an improbable target, fought valiantly.
Slater and Hayden started well, but wickets fell at crucial intervals. Waugh
and Ponting, so often Australia’s pillars, fell to Harbhajan’s wizardry.
With 30 overs remaining, Australia stood at 3 for 166, a
draw still within reach. But once Waugh departed, the collapse began. India’s
spinners tightened their grip, and soon enough, Australia was all out for 212.
A 171-run victory was secured. A series that had seemed destined to end in a whitewash had been resurrected. More than that, a new belief had been born—one that would define Indian cricket for the next two decades.
A Legacy Beyond
Numbers
Laxman’s innings was not just a match-winning effort; it was
a psychological turning point. No longer was India merely a talented team prone
to crumbling under pressure. They had, on one of cricket’s grandest stages,
turned certain defeat into triumph against one of the greatest teams ever
assembled.
For Waugh and his men, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Yet,
in their post-match reflections, there was no bitterness, no excuses—only
admiration. “Laxman’s knock was one of the greatest I ever faced in Tests,”
Gillespie admitted.
From that day forward, Indian cricket changed. It was a
victory that announced India’s arrival as a true force in Test cricket. It was
a reminder that artistry and resilience, when combined, could create something
immortal.
And for VVS Laxman, it was his magnum opus—a masterclass
that would forever remain etched in cricketing folklore.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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