The third and final Test of India's 2006-07 tour of South Africa in Cape Town would've been like any other game of cricket if not for the unusual turn of events that took place on Day 4.

India lost openers Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag very quickly in their second innings. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar was due to come out at No. 4 but the delay in his arrival to the crease left everyone baffled. It even led to an appeal from opposition captain Graeme Smith, with the delay extended over three minutes and that could've easily resulted in a time-out dismissal.

Thankfully, umpire Daryl Harper convinced Smith not to appeal as the delay was far from deliberate and only happened due to a technical miscommunication.

Due to an injury, Tendulkar was off the field for a bit the previous day and the rules made it necessary for the Master Blaster to wait before he could bat in the following innings. But not expecting its openers to be out so early, India had only Tendulkar padded up to go in next.

As it was later revealed, usual No.5 VVS Laxman was in the shower and Sourav Ganguly had to quickly get ready to join the long waiting Rahul Dravid in the middle.

In the latest video uploaded on his Facebook page, former India opener-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra recalled the funny incident and said: “It is said that work is worship and for cricketers work is playing, so that becomes our worship. If not for anyone else, for VVS Laxman cricket was no less than worship. And before any prayer, taking a bath is essential.”

“So VVS picked up his towel and went into the dressing room shower. We were playing South Africa in the picturesque ground of Cape Town. The situation in the Indian dressing room had turned bad with Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer already back in the pavilion,” he added.

Chopra further revealed what was going on at the time inside the Indian dressing room.

“Sachin Tendulkar, who was ready for his batting, picked up his bat and went into the field. But the fourth umpire told Sachin that he could not bat at the time because Sachin had been out of the ground on the third day for some time based on which he could have batted only after another 5 mins.

“Now with VVS taking bath, Dada was the only person left to go the middle. Sourav Ganguly, who was not ready at all for his batting. So someone was giving Dada his shirt, someone his trouser and another person getting his bat. And two players were making him wear his pads,” he remarked.

“In between all this hurry, finally Dada was made to enter the field. And Laxman was coming out smiling from the shower. VVS bhai, your batting came and went as well without you going onto the pitch. Something like that might have happened for the first time in cricketing history.

“VVS Laxman might have definitely got a scolding later because Sourav does not like such things at all. But then no one can scold VVS, that is also an interesting thing,” Aakash Chopra concluded.