Former India Skipper Sourav Ganguly has recalled the famous India series victory over Australia in 2001, which was regarded as one the greatest test series of all time. India made an excellent comeback after losing the first test India made a comeback to remember for the ages to win the series 2-1 . The former Indian captain went on to add that it was one of the best series of his life and that series helped him to grow as a leader
With the 2023 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy underway in Nagpur on February 9, former India skipper Ganguly recollected the memories of the high-octane series in 2001, Ganguly praised Rahul Dravid and Vvs Laxman for their partnership in the 2nd test in Eden gardens which eventually changed the fate of the series
“The greatest partnership in cricket’s history… On the fourth day, we lost no wickets and scored 335 runs. Rahul and VVS took drips after returning to the dressing room at the end of the day’s play. They lost a lot of fluids after batting through the entire day. But tiredness didn’t stop Rahul and VVS. They kept on fighting,” Ganguly wrote on Bengali Daily Sangbad Pratidin
While Laxman batted his way to his best batting score of 281, Dravid scored a fighting 180 with cramps. With a target of 384 to defend in the fourth innings, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh scalped 6/73 as Australia go out to 212 to give India a historic 171-run victory.
“And Australia? They couldn’t believe what India were doing to them. When Harbhajan trapped Glenn McGrath LBW, the Eden Gardens exploded. That expression of emotions was infectious. It gave a new lease of life to Indian cricket. Our team had achieved something rare, which hasn’t been replicated yet. We proved that Australia can be beaten,” Ganguly wrote.
“It will be a big series for him,”- Sourav Ganguly Wants Pujara To Show His Worth
Sourav Ganguly urges Indian middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara to showcase his worth in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Ganguly feels that it will be a big series for the experienced batter who needs a century against the Aussies. Pujara will become only the 13th cricketer to reach the landmark of 100 Tests for India during the 2nd test in Delhi.
“He’s playing his 100th Test in Delhi and that’s a great achievement. He will be the 13th Indian to play 100 Test matches and he totally deserves it. But he also needs to be at his best because after the last three years, even he needs a Test hundred against good attacks. It will be a big series for him,” Ganguly said in an interview with Sportstar.