India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph over Australia at home in 2001 is widely regarded as one of the best series wins.
Under Sourav Ganguly’s leadership, the Indian team managed to clinch the three-match series 2-1 despite losing the first Test in Mumbai by 10 wickets.
The hosts were staring at a series-conceding defeat in the second Test in Kolkata before VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid stitched together an iconic 376-run partnership to turn the series on its head.
With the 2023 edition of Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in Nagpur on February 9, former India skipper Ganguly recalled fond memories of the historic series.
"The greatest partnership in cricket's history... On the fourth day, we lost no wickets and scored 335 runs. Rahul and VVS took drips after returning to the dressing room at the end of the day's play. They lost a lot of fluids after batting through the entire day. But tiredness didn't stop Rahul and VVS. They kept on fighting," Ganguly wrote for Bengali daily Sangbad Pratidin.
India were forced to follow on after getting bundled out for 171 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 445 at the Eden Gardens. It was then Laxman and Dravid produced two of the greatest Test innings ever that helped India to notch up 657/7 (declared) in the second innings.
While Laxman batted his way to a marathon 281, Dravid scored a spirited 180 with cramps. The duo batted the entire fourth day adding 335 runs and their eventual stand of 376 carried India from 254/4 to 589/4.
Set a target of 384 in the fourth innings, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh scalped 6/73 as Australia collapsed from 166/3 to 212 all-out to give India a historic 171-run victory.
"And Australia? They couldn't believe what India were doing to them. When Harbhajan trapped Glenn McGrath LBW, the Eden Gardens exploded. That expression of emotions was infectious. It gave a new lease of life to Indian cricket. Our team had achieved something rare, which hasn't been replicated yet. We proved that Australia can be beaten," Ganguly wrote.
India went on to beat Australia in the decider at Chepauk by two wickets to bag the series 2-1.
"We went to Chennai to play the last Test with a lot of confidence. But we knew Australia would be at its fearsome best there. I told the team to play their best cricket because the world has seen what happens when we play at our best. Matthew Hayden was playing the best cricket of his life. It was important to get him out early. But the main thing was to bat well and put them under pressure. We did that and won the series 2-1.
"That 2001 series undoubtedly was the best of my life. That victory matured me as a leader. The team believed that they could win in any situation anywhere in the world," the former BCCI president stated.
