March 14, 2001 will always be a historic day in India's cricketing histroy. The venue was Eden Gardens in Kolkata. India were struglling against Australia in the second match of the 3-test series. The hosts were forced to follow on and had lost the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly in the second innings.
VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid then got together for a historic partnership against Australia that remains as fresh in the minds of every cricket fan as it was 17 years ago. The partnership laid the foundation for a historic victory.
Dravid and Laxman batted all day to get India from 254/4 to 589/4 as the hosts ended up winning the game to stage a remarkable comeback in the series against an ‘Invincible’ Australian side under Steve Waugh.
Australia had arrived in India on a 15-match winning streak, already a world record. Waugh had called India the 'final frontier' for his team.
India under Sourav Ganguly were looking to maintain their great record at home. However, the first Test in Mumbai went the visitor's way. Australia won the match by 10 wickets.
It was their 16th win on the trot.
The second Test at Eden Gardens looked to be heading for the same result. Australia posted 445 in their first innings even as Harbhajan Singh took India's first Test hat-trick. In reply, India were dismissed early on day 3 for 171. Steve Waugh enforced the follow on.
India lost Sachin Tendulkar when the score read 115/3. VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly resisted with a 117-run stand. But when Ganguly got out for 48, it looked like match was over for India.
Rahul Dravid was struglling for form in those days and was duly demoted to number 6 in the batting order.
India ended Day 3 at 254/4, still 20 runs behind Australia with 6 wickets in hand.
Then something truly magical happened on the fourth day.
VVS and The Wall batted out an entire day, against an attack consisting of McGrath and Warne. The duo remained unbeaten at the close of play on day 4 with India at 589/4.
Laxman will be dismissed on the final day for 281, India's then highest individual Test score. Dravid scored 180. They added 376 runs for the fifth wicket.
India set Australia a target of 384 runs to win the Test.
Harbhajan Singh, who was at his best in the series and Sachin Tendulkar spun some magic to demolish Australia for 212 runs. India won the match by 171 runs breaking Australia's unbeaten streak.
They drew level in the series and will eventually win the series in Chennai.
The final frontier will remain inconquered.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to social media to pay tribute to the duo. "#ThisDayThatYear in 2001 VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid scripted a historic Test comeback ever at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata #TeamIndia," tweeted BCCI.
The 'very very special' Laxman also took to Twitter to remember the historic Test.
"Some days give us an opportunity to know ourselves better & realize what we are capable of.17 years ago was one such day,which reemphasized my belief that we should not give up and an opportunity to serve my country. Was not just me and Rahul,but Bhajji ,Sachin and the whole team".
