Sachin Tendulkar on Eden 2001: Steve Waugh’s mighty Aussies, Laxman-Dravid magic, and his ‘out-of-the-box’ spell | Cricket News
Twenty-five years after India scripted one of Test cricket’s greatest turnarounds at the Eden Gardens in 2001, legend Sachin Tendulkar revisits the drama of that unforgettable match against Australia. In this interview, the batting great recalls the buzz around Steve Waugh’s seemingly invincible side, the dressing-room belief 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 Australia’s resistance. He explains how that famous victory trans -formed India’s confidence and why the Eden Test still ranks among the greatest wins of his career.There was a certain buzz before that series wasn’t there? The Aussies landed here having won 15 Tests in a row.
Yes, there was a lot of buzz before Australia got to India, as they had beaten everyone convincingly. I was playing in the Duleep Trophy in Pune for West Zone against East. I was asked by the media if I thought we could beat Australia. My answer was yes. I said it because they had never been put in a pressure situation. So, if we are able to put them in a pressure situation, we need to see how they respond.Did you prepare differently for the series?Nothing specific. I just kept everything normal, because I was playing well and I had scored runs in the Duleep Trophy. I was in a good frame of mind. In fact, in the first Test at Wankhede, I scored 76 and 67.Despite your contributions in Mumbai, the team lost inside three days. What was the mood when you travelled to Kolkata?When we went to Kolkata, the team was determined to fight back. Going one down in a three-match series is never a good feeling. So, we were all prepared and determined to win that Test and go to Chen -nai one-all and pin them down there. But our first innings wasn’t that great. But I remember VVS Laxman got 59.Tell us about watching that Laxman-Dravid partnership from the dressing room, especially on Day Four.Because VVS batted so well in the first innings, it was decided by coach John Wright, captain Sourav Ganguly and a couple of seniors in the dressing room that he would bat at No.3 in the second innings. And VVS just batted magnificently, as did Rahul. Day Four was a special day for us. From where we started in the morning to where we got in the evening, everything had transformed. 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 Day Five, and put Australia in, knowing how Australians approached all the matches, we knew they would go for the total and play aggressively and positively. And that is how it happened.What was so special about that partnership?It’s very easy to go out there, play a flamboyant innings and come back to the dressing room. But at Eden, time was also of the essence. If we had scored runs quickly and given Australia time, I don’t know if it would have worked. Apart from building a big total, occupying the crease was important too. So, they occupied the crease for a long duration. Batting for a long period of time isn’t just about physical endurance; it is also about mental endurance, how long you are able to concentrate and not give them a chance. I thought the way both of them batted was simply amazing. And we reached a point where there could only be one winner. I had said before the series started that it would be nice to see how Australia respond when they are put under pressure. And Rahul, VVS and Harbhajan, all three were responsible for the Indian team to be in that position on Day Five. And from there on, we capitalised.
Take us through Day Five, final session. Sourav Ganguly brings you on to bowl. Was it only for a change of ends? Watching the sequence of events on YouTube today, did he say, ‘just one over’? You eventually bowled 11 and picked up three vital wickets.Harbhajan was bowling really well. But, for some reason, we were struggling to pick wickets for a while. When you put a team in for just over two sessions, you can’t just expect them to get out eas -ily. If a pair batted for some time, you felt a partnership was building, and the result won’t go in our favour. We had to pick wickets at frequent intervals. I remember Sourav asking me, ‘Why don’t you bowl from this end?’ I have seen videos too where Sourav is talking to me. But it was never about me coming on for just one over. I bowled frequently during that period in Test cricket and before that too, and would provide the odd breakthrough regularly. I started bowling from the pavilion end and got two crucial wickets.You generally bowled leggies to right-handers and off-spin to left-handers, especially in white-ball cricket. But you got Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist, two attacking lefties, with full-pitched leggies. What was the thought behind that?Yes, those two guys were actually responsible for Australia beating us in the first Test, as they had a big partnership and scored hundreds. I managed to get both out LBW as they tried to sweep and missed.That googly to 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 a googly?I’ve always believed that when someone like me comes on to bowl, I should be constantly experimenting and not be predictable. I should be doing different things, out-of-the-box things, not be a regular bowler. I’ve always believed in catching the batter off guard. Warney’s was a prize wicket for me. I don’t think he picked me, and neither did he expect me to get so much turn from my googly. Bhaji was bowling incredibly well. We just needed someone to support him. We were trying, but things were not going in our favour. But those three wickets helped us get back on track and end the game on a winning note.What did that Eden win do to Indian cricket?Our confidence levels just shot through the roof. When we went to Chen -nai, although 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 unbelievable form in that series, we were able to put up a total in the first innings and put Australia under pressure again. Again, thanks to Bhaji there, who picked a lot of wickets. Rahul and I both scored runs again. I scored a hundred, and we won the series. Wins like the one we had at Eden make a huge difference. There is no medicine like a victory. It’s a tonic that energises you. The memories stay with you forever. But it also helps the next generation. You know, when they are watching us on television, the younger generation gets inspired.Where do you rank the Eden win among the many great wins you have had in your career?Among the top victories. If you take any victory in any part of the world, Eden Gardens 2001 would be discussed and always talked about.
