VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid (Photo AFP) In the cauldron that was the Eden Gardens in March 2001, John Wright – the first foreigner to coach India – witnessed the ebb and flow of a Test with all its drama, emotion and sheer improbability. 25 years later, the New Zealander talks to TOI from Christchurch about the pressure, tactical decisions and the far-reaching impact of defeating Australia.Looking back on the Eden Gardens Test 25 years later, what stands out the most for you?
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid’s iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
I can’t believe it’s been 25 years already! I have never seen such crowds before. It was packed to bursting. On the third day, things looked bleak for us. But then came the incredible turnaround over the next two days, mainly due to the sensational partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. It finally culminated in Harbhajan Singh’s bowling heroics on the final day. The pressure on us was huge. Australia were world champions and won everything.What were the circumstances surrounding the Indian team before this match?It was my early days as the first foreign coach of the Indian team and Sourav Ganguly was also a relatively new captain. The odds were against us. Before the series we had a training camp in Chennai with our physio Andrew Leipus. The big question we kept asking ourselves was simple: how do we beat Australia? I think we prepared very well for this challenge.How the absence manifested itself Anil Kumble shape the team’s plans?Our most experienced spinner Anil Kumble was injured and unavailable. The selectors identified a young off-spinner named Harbhajan Singh and this series ended up defining his career. Looking back, I would rank this series with the 2004 series win against Pakistan in terms of importance.The turning point of the Test was the promotion of VVS Laxman in the order. How was that decision made?We were asked to continue after the first innings but Laxman was already batting beautifully and scored 59. We were also 1-0 down in the series so in a sense we had nothing to lose. I remember listening to Ian Chappell on TV commentary. This is one commenter whose opinions I value greatly. Ian suggested that India should promote Laxman up the order as he was in great form. What he said made a lot of sense.We wanted someone who could play aggressively and put pressure on Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Sourav and I sat down after the first innings and agreed that promoting VVS (Laxman) was the best way forward. I have always believed that the captain is the central figure of the team. The coach is more on the periphery. But in this case, our collective decision worked perfectly.What made VVS Laxman’s innings so remarkable?What impressed me the most was the way Shane Warne played. He often played it against spin and also got on the field with the ball effortlessly. It was a masterclass in how to play spin. He played two great off drives after tea that day: one against McGrath and the other against Jason Gillespie. I remember thinking: how on earth does he play like that? It was so royal.Apart from his bat, how has Laxman contributed to the dynamic and development of the team?Laxman was the bridge between the younger players and the seniors in the squad. If I remember correctly he shared a room with Zaheer Khan. At that time we had a policy that the bowler would have room with the batsman. Laxman spent a lot of time giving Zak (Zaheer) advice on his batting. During my early tenure as coach, Sourav and I focused on three key areas: improving close catching, sharpening the running between the wickets and increasing overall fitness. We also wanted the lower order to contribute more so we don’t collapse after 200/5. The only thing missing from that platoon was a true jack of all trades.How vital was Rahul Dravid’s contribution?Absolutely. Rahul deserves huge credit. In the second innings, he was dropped to No. 6. It was a demotion, but he was a sport. His 180 was monumental. Laxman and Dravid were a wonderful pair. They were also involved in another remarkable partnership against Australia in Adelaide in 2003. Rahul was then in an incredibly productive phase of his career. Whether it was Headingley in 2002, Adelaide in 2003 or Lahore in 2004. It really was our rock.Harbhajan Singh’s bowling on the final day was legendary. Who were the other unsung heroes?Harbhajan’s performance including that famous hat-trick is rightly remembered. But we shouldn’t forget the magic of Sachin Tendulkar either. He picked up three important goals. The pitch was tight on the last day and it was a masterstroke from Sourav to give Sachin the ball. I also remember two outstanding catches by SS Das. There were contributions from everyone in that match.What do you remember about that crazy last day?It was incredibly tense. I watched the drama unfold from afar. Eden Gardens turned into a cauldron. The ebb and flow made it thrilling. I have always believed that India has the best cricket fans in the world and they deserve every bit of entertainment they get.How important was the win for the team?The win at Eden Gardens gave us huge confidence heading into the third Test in Chennai, which we also won. It also extended my tenure as the coach of Team India. I stayed with the team for another four years. If we had lost that series, I would have packed my bags and gone home. Back then, everything happened so fast that you didn’t fully absorb it. Looking back, I think the win gave the team confidence. It also paved the way for the overseas successes that followed.
