Twenty-five years after Test cricket’s biggest transformation at Eden Gardens in 2001, the legend Sachin Tendulkar Relives the drama of this unforgettable match against Australia. In this interview, the batting great recalled the buzz around Steve WaughThe seemingly indomitable side of, the dressing room conviction after the Mumbai defeat, and his magic VVS Laxman And Rahul DravidThe epic partnership of. Tendulkar also reflects on his own amazing spell on the final day, when his “out-of-the-box” bowling helped break down Australia’s resistance. He explains how that famous victory changed India’s confidence and why the Eden Test still ranks as one of the biggest wins of his career.Before that there was a certain buzz that the series didn’t have? Australia came here after winning 15 Tests in a row.
Yes, there was a lot of buzz before Australia came to India, because they beat everyone. I was playing for West Zone against East in the Dilip Trophy in Pune. The media asked me if I think we can beat Australia. My answer was yes. I say this because they have never been put in a stressful situation. So, if we are able to put them in a stressful 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 scored runs in the Duleep Trophy. I was in a good frame of mind. Actually, in the first Test at Wankhede, I scored 76 and 67.Despite your support in Mumbai, the team lost within three days. How was the mood when you went to Kolkata?When we went to Kolkata, the team was determined to fight back. Going down by one in a three game series is never a good feeling. So, we were all ready and determined to win this test and Chen-Nai would go one-all and pin them there. But our first innings was not that good. But I remember VVS Laxman scored 59 runs.Tell us about watching the Laxman-Dravid partnership from the dressing room, especially on Day 4.Since VVS batted so well in the first innings, coach John Wright, captain Sourav Ganguly and a few seniors in the dressing room decided to bat at number 3 in the second innings. And VVS batted brilliantly, as did Rahul. The fourth day was a special day for us. Everything had changed from where we started in the morning to where we reached in the evening. 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 the fifth day, and put Australia in, knowing how the Australians approach all matches, we knew they would go all in and play aggressively and positively. And so it happened.What was special about this partnership?It’s very easy to go out there, play a brilliant innings and come back to the dressing room. But in 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 making big totals, occupying the crease was also important. Hence, he occupied the crease for a long time. Long batting is not just about physical endurance. It’s also about mental stamina, how long you can focus and not give them a chance. I thought the way they both batted was amazing. And we got to a point where there could only be one winner. I said before the series started that it would be good to see how Australia responds when it comes under pressure. And Rahul, VVS and Harbhajan, all three were responsible for the Indian team reaching this position on day five. And from there, we invested.
Take us to day five, the final session. Sourav Ganguly brings you bowling. Was it just for a change? Watching the sequence of events on YouTube today, did he say, ‘Just one over’? You eventually bowled 11 and took three crucial wickets.Harbhajan was bowling really well. But, for some reason, we were struggling to take wickets for a while. When you put a team in for just two sessions, you can’t expect them to get out easily. If a pair bats for a while, you feel a partnership is building, and the result will not go in our favour. We had to take wickets at intervals. I remember Soro asking me, ‘Why don’t you bowl from that end?’ I have also seen videos where Sauro is talking to me. But it was never about me just coming in for one over. I bowled frequently in Test cricket during this period and before and would regularly deliver the odd feat. I started bowling from the pavilion end and took two important wickets.You usually bowl leggy 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 legs. What was the thought behind it?Yes, those two guys were actually responsible for Australia beating us in the first Test, because they put up big partnerships and scored centuries. I was able to get both of them out lbw as they tried to clean sweep and missed.He googly Warren. If one had to pick him, it would have to be a champion leaguer like him. But you completely disguised it. When did you think of going googly bowling?I have always believed that when it comes to bowling someone like me, I should constantly experiment and not be predictable. I have to do different things, things out of the box, not be a regular bowler. I have always believed in catching the batter off guard. Warney was a prize wicket for me. I don’t think he picked me up, nor did he expect me to take so many turns with 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 finish the game on a winning note.What damage did Eden’s victory do to Indian cricket?Our confidence level is through the roof right now. When we went to Chin Nai, even though it was a new game, we felt we had the upper hand. We felt that 70% of the series would be ours. And, despite Hayden’s incredible form in that series, we managed to build up the total in the first innings and put Australia under pressure again. Again, thanks to Bhaji there, who took a lot of wickets. Both Rahul and I scored runs again. I scored a century, and we won the series. Winning in Eden makes a big difference. There is no medicine like victory. It is a tonic that gives you energy. Memories stay with you forever. But it also helps the next generation. You know the younger generation is influenced when they are watching us on television.Where do you rank the Eden win among the many great wins you’ve achieved in your career?Among the top victories. If you win anywhere in the world, Eden Gardens 2001 will be the talk of the town and it’s always talked about.
