India scripted one of Test cricket’s greatest turnarounds at the Eden Gardens in 2001 (Image credit: X) Twenty-five years after India scripted one of Test cricket’s greatest upsets at the Eden Gardens in 2001, legend Sachin Tendulkar revisits the drama of that memorable match against Australia. In this interview, the batting great recalls the buzz surrounding Steve Waugh’s seemingly invincible side, the faith in the dressing room after the Mumbai defeat and the magic of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s epic partnership. Tendulkar also reflects on his own surprise spell on the final day, when his ‘out-of-the-box’ bowling helped break the Australian resistance. He explains how that famous win transformed India’s confidence and why the Eden Test still ranks as one of the biggest wins of his career.There was some buzz before this streak, right? The Aussies landed here after winning 15 Tests in a row.
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid in the iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
Yes, there was a lot of buzz before Australia got to India because they beat everyone convincingly. I played in the Duleep Trophy in Pune for the West vs East zone. The media asked me if I thought we could beat Australia. My answer was yes. I said that because they were never put under pressure. So if we are able to put them in a pressure situation, we have to see how they react.Did you prepare differently for the series?Nothing specific. I kept everything normal as I played well and scored in the Duleep Trophy. I was in a good mood. In fact, I scored 76 and 67 in the first Test at Wankhede.Despite your contributions in Mumbai, the team lost within three days. What was the mood like when you traveled to Calcutta?When we went to Kolkata, the team was determined to fight. Losing a three game streak is never a good feeling. So we were all ready and determined to win that test and go to Chen-nai one-all and pin them there. But our first innings was not so great. But I remember VVS Laxman got 59.Tell us about watching the Laxman-Dravid partnership from the dressing room, especially on the fourth day.Because VVS batted so well in the first innings, coach John Wright, captain Sourav Ganguly and a few seniors in the dressing room decided to bat at No. 3 in the second innings. And VVS just batted brilliantly, as did Rahul. The fourth day was special for us. From where we started in the morning to where we ended up in the evening, everything has changed. The thought process was different and there was a lot of excitement in the air. We felt that if we could score quickly on the morning of the fifth day and get Australia involved, knowing how the Australians approach all games, we knew they would go all out and play aggressively and positively. And so it happened.What was so special about the partnership?It’s very easy to go out there, play a flashy innings and go back to the dressing room. But time was also important in Eden. If we had scored quickly and given Australia time, I don’t know if it would have worked. In addition to building a large unit, occupying the crease was also important. So they occupied the crease for a long time. Batting for a long time is not just about physical endurance; it’s also about mental endurance, how long you are able to concentrate and not give them a chance. I thought the way they both batted was just amazing. And we got to the point where there could only be one winner. I said before the series started that it would be nice to see how Australia respond when under pressure. And Rahul, VVS and Harbhajan, all three were responsible for the Indian team being in this position for the fifth day. And we’ve capitalized ever since.Take us through day five, the final session. Sourav Ganguly brings you to bowl. Was it just to change the ending? When he was watching the sequence of events on YouTube today, he said “only one ending”? You ended up playing 11 and taking three important wickets.Harbhajan bowled really well. But for some reason we struggled for a while with goal selection. When you put a team in for just over two sessions, you can’t just expect them to get out easily. If the pair were batting for a while, you felt that the partnership was building and the result was not going to be in our favour. We had to pick wickets at frequent intervals. I remember Sourav asking me, ‘Why don’t you play from this end?’ I have also seen videos where Sourav is talking to me. But it was never about coming up with just one. During this period in Test cricket and before that, I bowled a lot and regularly provided the odd breakthrough. I started bowling from the end of the pavilion and got two crucial wickets.You usually bowled leggies for right-handers and off-spin for left-handers, especially in white-ball cricket. But you have Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, two attacking left-handers, with their legs at full height. What was the idea behind it?Yes, those two guys were actually responsible for Australia beating us in the first test because they had a big partnership and scored hundreds. I managed to get both of them LBW when they tried to sweep and missed.That’s good for Warne. If anyone had to pick it, it had to be a champion leggie like him. But you disguised it perfectly. When did you think of bowling?I have always believed that when someone like me comes to bowling, I should constantly experiment and not be predictable. I should do different things, unusual things, not be a regular bowler. I’ve always believed in catching the batter off guard. Warney’s was a valuable goal for me. I don’t think he chose me, nor did he expect to get so many turns from my googling. Bhaji bowled incredibly well. We just needed someone to back him up. We tried but things were not going in our favor. But those three goals helped us get back on track and end the game on a winning note.What did that win at Eden do to Indian cricket?Our confidence just shot through the roof. When we went to Chen -nai, even though it was a new game, we felt we had the upper hand. We felt that 70% of the series would belong to us. And despite Hayden’s incredible form in this series, we were able to put a total in the first innings and put Australia under pressure again. Thanks again to Bhaji who picked a lot of wickets. Rahul and I scored again. I put up a hundred and we won the series. Wins like the one we had at Eden make a huge difference. There is no cure like victory. It is a tonic that gives you energy. The memories will stay with you forever. But it also helps the next generation. You know, when they watch us on TV, the younger generation gets inspired.Where do you rank winning Eden among the many great wins you’ve had in your career?Among the best victories. If you had any victory in any part of the world, Eden Gardens 2001 would be discussed and always talked about.
