IND vs ENG: ‘Don’t Know How India Lost That Game’: Sourav Ganguly On Edgbaston Test

A self-assured Indian team captained by Sourav Ganguly defeated the formidable Australians in front of a boisterous audience at the Eden Gardens in 2001.

After India continued their play against Australia, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid put up a 376-run partnership that won it, although Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar also bowled brilliantly. In addition to his match total of 13 wickets, Harbhajan also took a hat-trick. 

Australian Crusade Stopped By Sourav Ganguly And Co.

Australia have won 16 successive Test matches between August 1999 and February 2001. After defeating India by 10 wickets in the opening match in Mumbai, they travelled to Kolkata under the leadership of Steve Waugh.

But something wonderful was seen at Eden Gardens. Laxman scored 281 runs in the longest format, while Dravid scored 180 runs. India set Australia a target of 384 runs, which the team was unable to reach and was eventually dismissed for 212. 

That Win Changed Indian Cricket: Sourav Ganguly

On July 8, Sourav Ganguly turned 50. He is frequently credited with modernising Indian cricket and inspiring confidence in his players (Friday). In 146 One Day Internationals, he captained India and won 76 of them. He led India to 21 victories in 49 Test cricket matches, with 15 draws. 

“That win changed Indian cricket. It changed the team. It gave the team confidence that we could win anywhere and everywhere. I think that was the turning point for our team,” Sourav Ganguly told Hindustan Times 

“In some ways, it was a freak game,” he added. He even likened it to the recent Edgbaston Test. “Yeah, absolutely. I don’t know how India lost that game,” said the BCCI president. 

England needed 119 runs on the last day of the Test, and early wickets may have helped India gain the upper hand. But with two extra sessions to spare, Root and Bairstow enabled them to coast to their biggest Test run-chase. 

The pair’s batting performance was a clear example of England’s more aggressive “Bazball” style, which was termed in honour of coach Brendon McCullum’s nickname. Only two fourth-innings chases above 200 have ever been successful in a Test at Edgbaston: South Africa’s 283-5 in 2008 and England’s 211-3 against New Zealand in 1999. 

Test Cricket Is Never Easy: Jasprit Bumrah

The first Test without Rohit Sharma, who tested positive for Covid-19, was captained by seamer Jasprit Bumrah. With 23 wickets at an average of 22.47, the fast bowler set a record for an Indian bowler during a Test assignment in England and was named India’s player of the series. 

“Test cricket is never easy,” said the stand-in captain after the game. 

“We had three good days and we were a little short with the bat and we let the opposition in.” 

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