It’s been acclaimed as the knock of the century. No other innings evokes such fond memories and awe as VVS Laxman’s 281 at the Eden Gardens in 2001. The stylish Hyderabadi’s chutzpah and steely resolve allied beautifully in constructing a magnificent edifice that halted the bull run of Steve Waugh’s rampaging Aussies. Laxman vividly recounts that epic innings for TOI… Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Your tally of 1415 runs is still a record for a domestic season. Did playing quality spinners in the Hyderabad nets help in countering Shane Warne better?My dream was always to win the Ranji Trophy for Hyderabad and the 1415 runs I scored in nine matches were really a by-product of trying to contribute towards that goal. Looking back, the 1999–2000 domestic season is very special to me. That season gave me a lot of confidence and reassurance about my game. The 353 I scored in the Ranji semis against Karnataka was another memorable moment because it demanded a lot of concentration, patience and the ability to stay focused for long periods.

Coming into the Indian team after that season, naturally the confidence levels were quite high. But international cricket is always a different challenge especially when you are facing the quality bowling that Australia had at that time.In Hyderabad, I was fortunate to face some very good spinners in the nets. Those sessions were extremely valuable because they helped me develop methods against quality spin. Of course, nothing can truly replicate the skill and variation of someone like Shane Warne but regularly facing quality spin certainly helped build the confidence and clarity needed to counter him in matches.Tell us how did physio Andrew Leipus manage to put you on the park?Two days before the Test my back went into a severe spasm and I could barely move. The credit for getting me on the field really goes to Leipus. He worked tirelessly through the night and early morning, giving me treatment, stretching the muscles and managing the pain. Even though I was probably only about 50–60 per cent fit, both Sourav and John Wright wanted me to play the Test. For the entire match I wasn’t physically comfortable. Every movement reminded me of the pain in my back, but when you are representing your country, you simply find a way to endure the pain and keep going and the mind becomes stronger than the body.Pain seems to get the best out of you. Eden and then Mohali…I wouldn’t say pain brought the best out of me, but those moments certainly tested my resolve. At Eden the situation demanded patience and belief especially while building that partnership with Rahul. In Mohali (against Australia, Oct 2010), the back pain made every movement difficult, but when you are so close to helping your team win, you somehow find the strength to keep going. I feel grateful that on both occasions I could contribute in a way that helped India.Since your early days too, the longer you stay at the wicket, better the run flow…Early in the innings my focus was always on giving myself time at the crease and understanding the conditions, the pace of the wicket and how the bowlers were operating. Once I spent some time in the middle, my footwork became more decisive and I could pick the length much earlier, which makes a big difference. When that happens, the mind becomes clearer and the shots you practice in the nets start coming naturally in the game. From there it’s about trusting your natural game and being a little more proactive once you are set.

VVS Laxman (Getty Images)

Picking the length early is clearly the hallmark of your batting. Did you sense that it was your day?On that day even though we were under pressure, I felt I was seeing the ball well and my footwork was quite decisive, which helped me control my strokeplay. Picking the length early always gives you that extra bit of time to play your shots. But as a batsman you never really assume it’s going to be your day. The focus is simply on staying in the moment, being disciplined and building the innings session by session.In the first innings, Steve Waugh had fielders on the boundary to get you off strike and you were stroking the ball along the carpet…When you are in good rhythm you can still pierce the gaps along the ground and find the boundary. I was timing the ball really well at that stage and even though Steve Waugh had pushed a lot of fielders to the boundary, my focus was on placement. The idea was to stay positive, take most of the strike and continue building the innings without forcing anything.You and Rahul were involved in many partnerships for South zone. But here it was different. Rahul came down the order. Did he let it show at any point during that long partnership? And what were the mid-pitch conversations all about?Rahul and I had built some memorable partnerships right from our age group cricket. Just about a month before this Test, we had a 300-run stand for South zone against West in the Duleep Trophy. But here the situation was completely different. The match situation was quite grim and when he came in at No. 6, he was incredibly calm and professional. He understood exactly what the team needed and focused on the job at hand. Our conversations were mostly about staying patient, being proactive when the opportunity came and breaking the day into small passages. The key was to keep supporting each other and keep the scoreboard moving.The fifth-wicket partnership of 376 runs turned out to be pivotal…The immediate focus was on rebuilding the innings and batting time. Once Rahul and I settled in, the idea was to make the bowlers work hard and slowly wear them down. We tried to play to our strengths, rotate the strike and capitalise whenever they offered us an opportunity. As the partnership grew you could sense the pressure gradually shifting back onto Australia. Even after reaching our individual milestones, we never became complacent as the objective was to keep batting as long as possible and ideally get through the entire fourth day.

Given both your physical condition, playing sessions was a steep climb. How did you break it down?Physically it was very demanding, especially in those conditions, but both of us understood how important that partnership was for the team. Both of us had the ability to bat for long periods but we tried to break the day into smaller phases. When you approach it that way it really helps because you are only focusing on the next passage of play. We kept encouraging each other and reminding ourselves that the longer we stayed there the more the pressure would shift back onto Australia.The second new ball on the fourth morning was crucial…We knew the bowlers would come hard at us. So, the second new ball was a very important phase of the game. Our plan was to stay very compact, play late and leave well outside off stump as much as possible. The idea was to see off that initial spell and not give them any early wickets. Once the shine went off and we got through that period, it allowed us to regain control and start building the innings again.And the pressure got to the Australians because boundary balls started flowing?When a bowling attack has to keep coming back for long spells without success it can be quite challenging. Once Rahul and I were set, we tried to capitalise whenever they slightly missed their lengths and converted those opportunities into boundaries. That gradually shifted the momentum in our favour.Did players carrying drinks rile the Aussies too?There was a lot of energy around the ground and in the dressing room. The players bringing drinks would sometimes pass on messages or encouragement from the team and the crowd at Eden Gardens was incredibly vocal. I think at times that enthusiasm probably irritated the Australians a little, but for us it was just part of the support we were getting. What the Eden Test did for Indian cricket?At that time Australia were such a dominant side so beating them after following-on was incredibly significant. That match was very special for Indian cricket because it reinforced the belief that we could come back from extremely difficult situations and still win a Test match. It showed the value of resilience, patience and belief in Test cricket. For us as a team it gave tremendous confidence going forward and proved that if we stayed mentally strong, we could compete with the very best teams in the world.

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid share a chat in the dressing room during the Eden Test. (Getty Images)

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman forged a series-defining partnership in the Eden Gardens Test to script one of the greatest turnarounds in cricket. Talking to TOI, the former India captain reflects on the tactical calls, the marathon stand and how the victory proved to be a turning point for Indian cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!How was your form leading up to the Eden Test?It was patchy, to be honest. I had scored runs in the series against Zimbabwe leading into this Australia series. In domestic cricket, I got some runs. So, from that perspective, I was feeling quite good. In the first Test in Mumbai, I batted for a long time in the second innings but got out to Shane Warne. The same happened in the first innings at Eden. But in the context of the series, there was so much hype and noise around it that it almost felt like I was really out of form. In reality, I hadn’t made runs in three innings.Considering all of that, was it extra special that the hundred came off Warne’s bowling?Warne was a phenomenal bowler and an absolute legend of the game. There were times I felt that he had the wood over me because I hadn’t really put up a big score against him. Against bowlers like him, you want to get a big score, so it felt good to be able to score runs and to be able to play him as well as I did.What was your reaction when you were told that you would have to bat at No.6 in the second innings?It was John Wright and Sourav Ganguly’s decision. They came to me and asked for my thoughts about it. It seemed pretty reasonable because Laxman had batted beautifully in the first innings. It made sense to put the guy who was in form up ahead of me at that stage. It did feel a bit odd because it had just been a couple of low-scoring innings for me, so it did cross my mind whether we were overreacting. But the conversation was about putting a bit of pressure back on the Aussies and I realised that maybe that is the best thing to do. And it worked out brilliantly.

You have had some amazing partnerships with Laxman.I’ve always really enjoyed batting alongside Laxman because, firstly, he’s a fantastic player and a great batsman to watch. So, you’ve got a really good seat in the house. He did not get frazzled or hassled by too many things. We played a lot of cricket together for the South Zone and some junior cricket as well. We’d communicate a little bit, but we’re not like out-and-out big talkers in the middle. So that suited my game as well. He was one of those players who had skills to play all around the wicket and it didn’t feel like there was any kind of bowling that could trouble him. So, when you bat alongside a player like him, it gives you confidence and belief.You batted for 446 minutes with Laxman. What was the one routine you followed?I had a personal routine that I followed before each delivery, which was just two taps of the bat while moving my feet in a particular way. I took a couple of breaths and sometimes said to myself, ‘Watch the ball.’ Laxman had his own routine and he liked to draw a lot of lines on the pitch and tap the bat. I would pull his leg at times and not put my bat out for him to tap and he would get a bit grumpy about it.Was your reaction after getting the ton directed towards anyone in the press box? People never saw you react that way before…That’s been blown out of proportion a little bit. I think in some ways, there was a lot of pressure on me. You can’t really react to everything people say. I understand that better now because I’m a bit wiser, more mature and have seen a fair bit of life in 25 years. But I genuinely felt that there was a lot of negativity around the team and a lot of criticism, which was a little bit uncalled for at that stage. Also, some of that criticism directed towards me was a bit unjustified. I’d only gone three innings without scoring runs. I was young and feeling the pressure. As a young man fighting for your place in the side — for your career and the team — you don’t always have the maturity to fully understand the situation. I’m happy enough to admit 25 years later that maybe I did let things get to me, which I should not have. But it wasn’t meant for anyone in particular. It was a relief and a sort of outlet for the pressure I was feeling. Whatever may be my reputation, so to speak, I have always been human.What was the chat in the dressing room after each session?It was about continuing to put pressure back on them. Just being in the moment and not trying to think too far ahead. Until the last session of Day Five, we weren’t even thinking about winning. In fact, we had to bat for a while the next day, and we bowled them out. The runs we piled up in the second innings (657/7 decl.) in some ways were a backhanded compliment to the Australians because they were such a strong team that we believed that we had to put up so many runs on the board.Did the declaration come late?People felt that way. There can always be different opinions on that. But the thinking in the team was to put them under pressure so that they had to defend rather than attack and never force us to push fielders back. Having men around the bat all the time created constant pressure and, in turn, chances. If we had given them even a sliver of an opportunity to attack, the game could have looked very different.What was the belief on Day 5?There was a certain sense of belief because we knew the ball was keeping low and the wicket was turning. Harbhajan Singh bowled beautifully and was at the top of his game.While you, Laxman and Harbhajan were the headline acts, there were other heroes too…Some people made a really incredible impact. Sachin’s wickets were absolutely critical after tea on Day Five. We don’t get those wickets often, and especially getting Adam Gilchrist out was a huge one. Venky’s (Venkatesh Prasad) 42-run stand with Laxman in the first innings, (Sadagopan) Ramesh’s catches, were all crucial. Also, really good captaincy by Sourav. He also got a crucial 48 in the second innings. It felt like a total team effort. But of course, when you have a couple of big performances like that, then people tend to recognise and remember only thoseDid the Eden Test make captains wary of enforcing the follow-on?I think that’s true. In some ways, I was not surprised that Australia gave us a follow-on. After the Eden Test, I think in some ways, you started seeing teams being more circumspect about giving the follow-on. Teams were a bit more wary of enforcing the follow-on, especially in subcontinental conditions. I think we started doing that less. I think as an Indian team, we started recognising that there’s probably no need to enforce the follow-on that much when you have so much time left in the game. Time is a crucial factor in these things. I think people have looked at the follow-on differently after that Test.What did the Eden Test do to Indian cricket?It did a lot, because it gave us a certain stability. John Wright was our first foreign coach and there were some doubts and criticism about whether that would work and what might happen. If we hadn’t won the series, I couldn’t answer what might have happened. But certainly, the pressure would have been on the whole team. But the fact that we were able to go on to win that series and play some very good cricket, it gave us as a group a little bit of breathing space. It also allowed us to build from there and steer the team in a certain direction. Even without that win, I believe Indian cricket would eventually have reached where it needed to. But it might have taken a little longer. That victory also triggered a phase when we began winning the odd Test and series abroad.Have you retained any souvenirs from that Test?I have the bat tucked in somewhere and a couple of other souvenirs.Twenty-five years, does it feel like a lifetime?People keep reminding me of the innings. I always cherish it because I think in some ways people remember what they were doing then. For me, that’s really nice because it gives me a feeling that I was able to be a part of someone’s memory for doing something that I’m expected to do, which is just part of my job.Where would you rate the win in your career?I’ve probably batted better in other tougher situations, and there have been other knocks that have been better in terms of just pure batting satisfaction. But, in the context of everything that happened and what it did for Indian cricket, and to so many of our careers, I’d certainly say that it’s high up there.

Imran Khan (Image credit: AFP)

NEW DELHI: Indian greats Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev are among 14 former international captains who have expressed “deep concern” over the reported decline in the health of jailed cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan. In a joint appeal, they have called on the Pakistan government to ensure he is provided adequate medical attention and treated with dignity in line with international norms.According to reports, the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper has allegedly lost close to 85 per cent of vision in his right eye due to medical neglect while lodged at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

The group sent a letter titled “Appeal by former International Cricket Captains” to Pakistani authorities, urging fair treatment for Khan. Notably, the signatories do not include a single former Pakistan cricketer.“We, the undersigned former captains of our national cricket teams, write with deep concern regarding the reported treatment and incarceration conditions of Imran Khan, the distinguished former Captain of Pakistan and a legendary figure in world cricket,” the letter said.“Recent reports concerning his health — particularly the alarming deterioration of his vision while in custody — and the conditions of his imprisonment over the past two and a half years have caused us profound concern.“As fellow cricketers who understand the values of fair play, honour, and respect that transcend the boundary rope, we believe that a person of Imran Khan’s stature deserves to be treated with the dignity and basic human consideration befitting a former national leader and a global sporting icon.”The appeal was also signed by Michael Atherton, Allan Border, Michael Brearley, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Belinda Clark, David Gower, Kim Hughes, Nasser Hussain, Clive Lloyd, Steve Waugh and John Wright.

In 2023, Khan, who also served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister, was handed a 14-year prison sentence in a corruption case.The former captains called for comprehensive medical care, transparent legal proceedings and humane conditions for the 73-year-old.“We respectfully urge the Government of Pakistan to ensure that Imran Khan receives: Immediate, adequate and ongoing medical attention from qualified specialists of his choosing to address his reported health issues.“Humane and dignified conditions of detention in line with international standards, Including regular visits by close family members. Fair and transparent access to legal processes without undue delay or hindrance.“Cricket has long been a bridge between nations. Our shared history on the field reminds us that rivalry ends when the stumps are drawn-and respect endures. Imran Khan embodied that spirit throughout his career.”The letter further urged authorities to uphold the principles of “decency and justice”.“This appeal is made in the spirit of sportsmanship and common humanity, without prejudice to any legal proceedings.”It also highlighted Khan’s legacy both as a cricketer and a political leader.“Imran Khan’s contributions to the game are universally admired. As captain, he led Pakistan to their historic 1992 Cricket World Cup victory a triumph built on skill, resilience, leadership, and sportsmanship that inspired generations across borders.“Many of us competed against him, shared the field with him, or grew up idolizing his all-round brilliance, charisma, and competitive spirit. He remains one of the finest all-rounders and captains the sport has ever seen, earning respect from players, fans, and administrators alike.“Beyond cricket, Imran Khan served as Prime Minister of Pakistan, leading his nation during a challenging period. Regardless of political perspectives, he holds the honour of having been democratically elected to the highest office in his country.”