Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly Reveals his Best Match as a Cricketer

Former Indian National Cricket team skipper Sourav Ganguly has revealed that the second Test against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001 is the best match he has featured in. Meanwhile, this is also arguably the best-ever win by an Indian team. Coming from the back of a poor season, the hosts started the series losing the first game. However, surprisingly they made a stunning comeback to win the Test at the Eden Gardens.

Greatest match ever?

With luck favouring of the visitors, Steve Waugh after winning the toss opted to bat first. Waugh & Co. put a 103-run opening stand between Matthew Hayden (97) and Michael Slater (42). By the time India managed to end their 1st innings, they had already put 445 runs on the scoreboard. However, during Indias’ innings, they struggled to offer resistance with the resistance and were all out for 171.

Meanwhile, following on, Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh provided a solid start but soon spinner Shane Warne dismissed Ramesh. Then it was upto VVS Laxman and skipper Sourav Ganguly as they forged a 117-run partnership for the fourth wicket. But Ganguly’s dismissal saw the  27-year old Dravid walk in the middle. He not only supported Laxman from the other end but also helped the hosts recover from the setback of losing their captain. India had scored 254 for four at stumps on Day 3.

Laxman, who could have become first Indian batsman to score a triple ton back then, finally got out for 281 by McGrath after nearly facing 452 balls and spending more than 600 minutes at the crease. On the other hand, Dravid was run out for 180. India went on to script history as the Australian innings folded for 212 in the fourth innings. Harbhajan Singh bowled brilliantly and carved a place for himself in history books by picking up 13 wickets in the match which also included a hat-trick as the hosting nation levelled the three-match Test series 1-1.