Rahul Dravid: Crowd At Eden Gardens Helped India Win 2001 Kolkata Test

Rahul Dravid, who forged a key partnership with VVS Laxman, to change the complexion of the match credited the Eden Gardens crowd for their historic win over Australia in Kolkata  Test. Opting to bat, Australia scored 445 runs in the first innings and bundled out India for paltry 171 runs to take an upper hand in the contest.

India were asked to follow-on in the second innings and returned strongly with VVS Laxman scoring his career-best 281 runs and Dravid notching up a brilliant 180. As a result, India declared their second innings on 657/7. Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowlers for India in the first innings and continue to dismantle Australia in the second as well.

Apart from the top three and captain Steve Waugh none of the Australian batsmen could contribute much in the chase as the visitors lost their way in the chase. In that moment, the Eden Gardens crowd went berserk and encouraged Team India as they closed in to the historic victory on the final day of the match.

Rahul Dravid: The atmosphere on last day was electric 

Rahul Dravid recalled the last day of the match and said it was electric. The Eden Gardens crowd were supporting and cheering for the side every ball which encouraged them towards the victory. “The atmosphere on the last day, after tea, the time when we were trying to take wickets,” Dravid said on the Cricket Connected Show on Star Sports.

Harbhajan Singh was bowling and wickets were falling. The support from the crowd was incredible. The crowd at Eden Gardens helped us win the 2001 Kolkata Test. That support, encouragement and cheer after every ball, I remember it till now and I can still feel that,” he added.

India won the Test by 171 runs and it still goes down as one of the finest performance from the side in the longest format.