India produced one of the most memorable comebacks in Test cricket history at the Eden Gardens on 14 March 2001 when they beat Australia by 171 runs after being forced to continue. The match is widely remembered for the partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, which changed the course of the game and set a new benchmark in Indian cricket.
Australia, led by Steve Waugh, took the lead at the start of the Test. After posting a total of 445 in their first innings, Australia bowled India out for just 171 to build a lead of 274 runs. With the series 1-0 up, Waugh forced the follow-on and put India under heavy pressure as the hosts looked to avoid another defeat.
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India’s second innings got off to a poor start, losing Sachin Tendulkar for 10 and slumping to 115 for 3. VVS Laxman, who began rebuilding the innings alongside captain Sourav Ganguly with a 117-run partnership, was joined at number six by Rahul Dravid. The pair faced a formidable Australian attack led by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
HOW DID LAXMAN-DRAVID BREAK THE AUSSIES?
Laxman and Dravid put on a 376-run stand for the fifth wicket, which is considered one of the greatest in Test cricket. Laxman set a new record for the highest individual score by an Indian in Tests at the time with 281, while Dravid contributed 180 off 353 deliveries, showing grit and determination during a period of immense pressure.
Both batsmen neutralized Australia’s bowling threat, stayed at the crease all day and changed India’s fortunes. Their efforts saw India declare at 657 for 7, overturning the deficit and setting Australia a daunting target in the fourth innings. The partnership between Laxman and Dravid is often cited as the turning point of the match and the series.
The Indian bowlers became the center of attention on the final day. Harbhajan Singh gave a decisive performance as he claimed 6 wickets for 73 runs while Sachin Tendulkar contributed 3 for 31. Australia’s batting line-up, which had dominated the series earlier, could not withstand the pressure and were bowled out, giving India a dramatic victory.
The win meant that India became only the third team to win a Test after succeeding, placing alongside rare company in the history of the sport. The result revived Indian cricket, breaking Australia’s record 16-match winning streak, and has since been regarded as a landmark achievement in the Border–Gavaskar Trophy.
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Published on:
March 14, 2026 1:20 PM IST
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