File image: VVS Laxman (TOI Photo) I came back after almost two years and everything about the team has changed: the fitness level, the attitude and the mindset.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!I still remember the evening after Australia pushed for the follow-on. National selector Madan Lal asked us to continue the fight. Laxman then said something that surprised me. He said, “We could win it.” It was hard to imagine at that stage, but he had faith.Rahul Dravid was placed at No.6 while Laxman moved up the order. The decision came after discussions between coach John Wright and captain Sourav Ganguly. It turned out to be a smart move.
EXCLUSIVE: Rahul Dravid’s iconic Eden Gardens win against Australia in 2001
Laxman and Dravid have known each other for years, from their South Zone and U-19 days. Once they settled in, the way they batted all day and completely changed the game.
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There was tension inside the locker room. One wicket and tail would be exposed. But the way they batted kept us alive. Meanwhile, Australia were so used to winning that a draw wasn’t really in play. This caused them problems.This series largely belonged to Harbhajan Singh. But Sachin Tendulkar’s spell on Day 5 was key. He had experience of bowling under pressure – like that famous last over in the 1993 Hero Cup – and when the team needed it, he did it again.READ ALSO: ‘Playing for India, the mind becomes stronger than the body’: VVS Laxman recounts his epic Eden knockLaxman’s innings was extraordinary. He was driving down the track to Shane Warne and hitting him against spin as well. That confidence came from years of playing domestic cricket on the turning tracks of Hyderabad.For me, the Kolkata Test was special because it turned out to be my last game. Mark Waugh’s wicket made it even more memorable. It was the perfect farewell.More importantly, the Test transformed Indian cricket. It gave the team the belief that we can defend ourselves in any situation and win. Here’s another little personal memory: the bat with which Laxman scored that famous 281 was actually mine. So, in a small way, that was my contribution to that historic knock.(Former Indian left-arm spinner spoke to Vishal Menon)
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