‘At the end of Day 3 we had packed our suitcases’: Hemang Badani narrates an interesting tale about the epic 2001 Eden Garden Test
Former India batsman Hemang Badani shared an interesting story about the epic 2001 Eden garden Test, where Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman forged 376 run partnership to lead a stunning fightback against Australia.
“Not many know that at the end of day 3 we had packed our suitcases, they were to be taken straight to the airport and the team were to go straight to the airport from the ground. And then these two batted like magicians without losing a wicket the entire day,” Badani wrote on Twitter.
“When we got back to the hotel, we didn’t have our suitcases and were stuck with our match gear and tracks until about 9 pm or so. Lot of us ate dinner at the hotel restaurant in our whites,” he added.
Not many know that at the end of day 3 we had packed our suitcases, they were to be taken straight to airport and the team were to go straight to the airport from ground. And then these two batted like magicians without losing a wicket the entire day …cont https://t.co/jTyuUTD4o9
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) March 14, 2023
After batting first, Australia posted 445 runs in the first innings with skipper Steve Waugh’s 110 and Harbhajan Singh’s hat-trick enlivening the proceedings. India replied with 171 in which Laxman, stepping in at six, top-scored with a 59.
When we got back to the hotel we didn’t have our suitcases and were stuck with our match gear and tracks until about 9 pm or so. Lot of us ate dinner at the hotel restaurant in our whites.#INDvsAUS #laxman #dravid #BCCI
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) March 14, 2023
After the follow on India were in trouble but promoted to number three VVS Laxman scored an incredible 281 (452b, 44×4) and put on a 376-run fifth-wicket partnership with Rahul Dravid (180) batted the entire fourth day.
India’s second innings score of 657 for seven declared left Australia with a target of 384 on a fifth-day pitch. Harbhajan claimed six wickets and India won 171 runs.
