A Test for the Ages: Grit, Drama, and Harbhajan’s Heroics Define a Thrilling Series Finale

In the annals of Test cricket, some matches are remembered for sheer individual brilliance, some for their tactical depth, and others for their nerve-wracking finishes. The deciding Test of this gripping series between India and Australia was a rare blend of all three. A contest that swung like a pendulum before culminating in a grandstand finish, it encapsulated everything that makes the most extended format of the game the ultimate test of character and skill. 

India set a seemingly modest target of 155 in the fourth innings, and looked to be sailing towards victory. Yet, in keeping with the riveting drama that had characterized the entire series, they found themselves dragged into a tense battle as Australia’s bowlers fought with fierce resilience. In the end, India emerged triumphant, securing a thrilling two-wicket win—their narrowest margin of victory in Test cricket since 1964. But this was more than just a match; it was a tale of endurance, a clash of cricketing philosophies, and above all, a stage where individuals carved their legacies. 

A Pitch That Dictated the Terms

Before the first ball was bowled, the pitch itself had become a focal point. Its barren, deteriorating surface made it evident that spin would play a dominant role. Both teams altered their bowling compositions accordingly: Australia included off-spinner Colin Miller for the first time in the series, while India bolstered their spin contingent with the introduction of leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule alongside the wily Harbhajan Singh and left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni. 

Yet, despite the varied spin options, the game belonged to one man—Harbhajan Singh. Having already emerged as India’s trump card in previous matches, the young off-spinner reached new heights, claiming 15 wickets in the match—his second consecutive ten-wicket haul in the series. His tally was surpassed only by Narendra Hirwani’s 16-wicket feat against the West Indies in 1987-88. Harbhajan’s dominance not only strangled Australia’s batting but also gave India a crucial edge at key moments in the game. 

Hayden’s Masterclass Amidst Australian Woes

If Harbhajan was India’s talisman with the ball, Australia’s batting hopes rested on the broad shoulders of Matthew Hayden. From the moment he took guard, he exuded an air of confidence, blending power with patience in an innings of breathtaking brilliance. His 203, crafted over 474 minutes and 320 deliveries, was a masterclass in calculated aggression. Striking 15 fours and six sixes—the latter a record for an Australian in a Test innings—Hayden single-handedly carried the visitors’ innings, even as wickets fell around him. 

His partnerships with Mark Waugh (150 runs) and Steve Waugh (123 runs) provided Australia with a solid platform, but the innings unravelled spectacularly following an extraordinary moment of misjudgment by their captain. 

Steve Waugh, ever the epitome of composure, fell to one of cricket’s rarest dismissals—handled the ball. As an lbw appeal against him was turned down, the ball spun back ominously towards his stumps. With his attention diverted momentarily, Waugh instinctively used his palm to prevent the ball from disturbing the bails—a moment of reflex that made him only the sixth batsman in Test history to be given out in this manner. His dismissal opened the floodgates. 

From a position of relative comfort, Australia collapsed dramatically, losing their last six wickets for a mere 26 runs. Harbhajan, relentless and unforgiving, was the architect of this collapse, exploiting the conditions to claim a staggering 7 for 133 in the innings. The Australian lower order, bereft of answers, folded meekly. Even the legendary Shane Warne failed to resist, registering his 23rd duck in Test cricket—a record for an Australian batsman. 

India’s Response: A Collective Effort Led by Tendulkar

India’s response was in stark contrast to Australia’s one-man show. The opening duo of Shiv Sundar Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh provided a steady foundation, stitching together a century stand that neutralized the Australian new-ball attack. However, the real dominance came from the middle order, led by none other than Sachin Tendulkar. 

Tendulkar’s 126 was an innings of supreme artistry and authority. Striking 15 boundaries and two towering sixes—both off Miller—he dismantled the Australian attack with the precision of a master craftsman. His partnership with Rahul Dravid, worth 169 runs, ensured India amassed a commanding total of 453, building a crucial first-innings lead of 110. Contributions from the top order ensured India maintained control even as wickets fell late in the innings. 

With a significant deficit to overturn, Australia needed a strong start in their second innings, and once again, Hayden delivered. His aggressive approach, combined with solid partnerships with Slater, Mark Waugh, and Steve Waugh, saw Australia claw back into the contest. However, just as momentum seemed to be shifting, Harbhajan struck again. 

The morning of the final day saw another Australian collapse, eerily reminiscent of their first innings. Steve Waugh, who had appeared immovable overnight, perished early, and once again, Harbhajan ran through the lower order, claiming a career-best 8 for 84. Australia bowled out for 264, set India a modest target of 155—but as events would unfold, no target was too small in this pulsating contest. 

A Nervy Chase and a Fitting Finale

India’s pursuit of 155 began with assuredness, as VVS Laxman and Tendulkar appeared to be guiding them to a comfortable victory. However, a sudden twist awaited. 

Gillespie, generating both pace and movement, produced a delivery of unplayable quality to dismiss Tendulkar, caught at second slip by Mark Waugh. Within three overs, two more wickets fell, sending a wave of panic through the Indian camp. Even as Laxman continued to score freely, his departure after tea—courtesy of an astonishing midwicket catch by Mark Waugh—threw the match wide open once again. 

When the seventh wicket tumbled at the same score, the pendulum swung dramatically in Australia’s favor. With 20 runs still needed and only three wickets in hand, the tension reached unbearable levels. Stand-in wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe and Zaheer Khan nudged India closer, but with nine runs still required, Australia played their final card—McGrath. Despite struggling with a stomach ailment, he was reintroduced into the attack and struck immediately, dismissing Zaheer via yet another Mark Waugh catch. 

The equation stood at four runs with two wickets in hand. The crowd held its breath. Dighe and Harbhajan, unflustered by the pressure, stole singles to reduce the margin further. And then, in a moment of poetic justice, it was Harbhajan—the man who had tormented Australia throughout the series—who had the final say. A McGrath half-volley was calmly nudged square of the wicket, sealing an unforgettable two-wicket victory. 

A Series for the Ages

With this triumph, India not only secured the series but also reaffirmed their growing dominance at home. The two-wicket win was a statistical throwback to their narrowest victory margin against Australia in Bombay, 1964-65, but in its essence, it was a contest of far greater magnitude. 

At the heart of it all was Harbhajan Singh, whose 32 wickets in the series transformed him from a promising spinner into a national hero. His performances had not just won India matches—they had changed the perception of Indian bowling, proving that an off-spinner could single-handedly dictate terms against the best side in the world. 

This was more than just a Test match; it was a reminder of why cricket remains the most unpredictable, dramatic, and deeply absorbing of all sports. As the dust settled, one truth remained undeniable—Test cricket, at its finest, is unparalleled in its ability to weave stories that will be told for generations.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar

The Eden Gardens Miracle: A Triumph of Grit, Glory, and Redemption

Cricket has often been described as a game of glorious uncertainties, but few matches have exemplified this axiom as profoundly as the historic Kolkata Test of 2001 between India and Australia. What unfolded at Eden Gardens was not just a cricket match—it was an epic saga of defiance, endurance, and redemption, culminating in one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Test cricket. It was only the third instance in Test history where a team that had followed on emerged victorious, and for the third time, Australia was on the receiving end of this rare humiliation. 

At the heart of India’s sensational fightback were two heroes who etched their names into cricketing folklore—VVS Laxman, whose silken strokeplay mesmerized the world, and Rahul Dravid, whose unwavering resilience formed the backbone of India's resurgence. Complementing their heroics was Harbhajan Singh, whose remarkable off-spin wizardry not only brought India’s first-ever Test hat-trick but also dismantled the mighty Australians when it mattered most. 

Australia’s Early Dominance and Harbhajan’s Hat-trick

The visitors began with characteristic authority, asserting their dominance on a surface that initially offered little for the bowlers. The foundation of their imposing first-innings total of 445 was laid by Matthew Hayden, who combined brute force with calculated aggression to compile a commanding 97. Steve Waugh, the indomitable Australian captain, further strengthened their grip with a defiant century, guiding his team through a late-order collapse triggered by the young Harbhajan Singh. The off-spinner’s devastating spell saw him claim India’s first-ever Test hat-trick, dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, and Shane Warne in rapid succession. Despite this setback, Australia’s tail wagged admirably, as Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath offered staunch resistance, helping Waugh extend the innings before he eventually fell for a fighting 110. 

India’s First-Innings Collapse and the Spark of a Fightback 

With the pitch still playing true, India had every reason to mount a strong reply, but what followed was a nightmare. A rampant Glenn McGrath tore through the Indian top order with surgical precision, his relentless accuracy yielding figures of 4 for 18. India crumbled for a paltry 171, handing Australia a colossal lead of 274. The match seemed all but over. 

Yet, amidst the ruins, a glimmer of hope emerged. VVS Laxman’s 59 was a rare moment of defiance, a stroke-filled innings that hinted at the elegance and tenacity he would soon unleash in full force. Recognizing his brilliance, the Indian think tank made a crucial decision—promoting Laxman to No. 3 in the second innings. It was a move that would alter the course of history. 

Laxman and Dravid: The Epic Partnership That Defied Fate

What followed was an exhibition of batting that transcended the realm of sport and entered the domain of legend. Laxman, with his effortless grace, and Dravid, with his stoic determination, produced a partnership of such monumental brilliance that it single-handedly reversed India’s fortunes. For over ten and a half hours, the duo blunted, dismantled, and demoralized the Australian attack. Laxman’s strokeplay was an aesthetic marvel—his wristy flicks and regal drives flowed like poetry in motion. Meanwhile, Dravid was the immovable rock at the other end, absorbing every challenge with unflappable concentration. 

Their unbroken stand of 335 runs on the fourth day—without losing a wicket—was a feat of superhuman endurance. By the time they were finally separated at 376, they had rewritten record books, eclipsing multiple Indian and international milestones. Laxman’s 281, the highest individual score for India at the time, was a masterpiece, and Dravid’s 180 was the perfect complement to it. 

With the lead swelling past 380, Sourav Ganguly boldly declared at 657 for 7, setting Australia an improbable target of 384. The stage was now set for an exhilarating finish. 

Harbhajan and Tendulkar Weave a Web of Spin

Australia, accustomed to steamrolling opposition, had the batting depth to chase or at least save the game. Openers Hayden and Michael Slater began watchfully, adding 74 runs and raising visions of an escape. But once the breakthrough came, the visitors unravelled. 

Harbhajan, continuing his golden spell, spun a web around the Australians, picking up six wickets in the second innings. Tendulkar, often overshadowed for his bowling, delivered three crucial blows, including the prized scalps of Hayden and Gilchrist—who suffered the ignominy of a king pair. The mighty Australians, who had won 16 consecutive Tests, were bowled out for 212, their invincibility shattered. 

Conclusion: A Victory for the Ages

When the final Australian wicket fell, Eden Gardens erupted in sheer ecstasy. This was more than just a Test match victory—it was a triumph of perseverance over adversity, a testament to the resilience of a team that refused to surrender. The Kolkata Test of 2001 became a defining moment in Indian cricket, proving that mental strength and self-belief could triumph against the greatest of odds. 

Laxman’s artistry, Dravid’s grit, and Harbhajan’s brilliance ensured that this match would forever be etched in cricketing folklore. For Steve Waugh’s Australians, it was a rare setback in an otherwise dominant era. But for India, it was the dawn of a new chapter—a chapter that heralded their rise as a cricketing powerhouse, ready to challenge and conquer the best in the world.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar