March 14 is the day of Holi in 2025 but exactly 24 years ago, the morning of the same date was not as colorful for Indian cricket fans. It was the morning of the fourth day of the second Test in Australia's tour to India. The visitors had won the first game convincingly and were on course for a dominating series win. (More Cricket News)
On This Day In 2001: When VVS Laxman And Rahul Dravid Scripted A Comeback For Ages
On March 14, 2011: VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid combined to put up a show that not just the Eden Gardens, but all of cricketing world remembers till date and will remember forever
India were trailing Australia by 20 runs while following on with six wickets in hand. A defeat looked imminent. If not on March 14, then a day later.
However, then came one of the most remarkable days of cricket in the history of this sport. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid combined to put up a show that not just the Eden Gardens, but all of cricketing world remembers till date and will remember forever.
Laxman and Dravid batted the whole fourth day. The image of the duo walking back after batting out the whole day remains one of the most iconic photo in the game's history. In fact, Laxman and Dravid did not just bat out the day, they scored heavily and by Stumps, India were in the driving seat.
Rahul Dravid with VVS Laxman during the famous 2001 Test match.
X/VVSLaxman
On the fifth day, Dravid departed for 180 to end a marathon 376-run partnership for the fifth wicket. It was the then second-highest partnership by an Indian pair in Test cricket and also the second-highest by any pair against Australia. Laxman got 281, the then highest score by an Indian in the longest format.
India gave a 384-run target to the Aussies and Harbhajan Singh then ripped apart the visitors batting line-up with a six-wicket haul for a memorable victory. India turned the game on its head and clinched an unforgettable 171-run victory and also went on to win the third Test to win the series.
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