Skip to main content

Combine and Conquer

"This is the day that the Lord has made ,we will rejoice and be glad in it " 
Probably these were the lines that Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman would have sung on this very same day,a couple of decades ago.This was the day that had its impact on Indian cricket for a very long time.It wouldn't be exaggerating if i call this out as one of the best moments of life for every Indian cricket fan out there. This particular partnership changed the face of Indian cricket and the series as a whole revealed the fighting spirit that was imparted to Team India by Sourav Ganguly.

Eden gardens was filled with multitude of gloomy faces when Day 4 began, courtesy following on to a huge first innings deficit.Indians made a decent start to second innings with openers SS Das and Sadagopan Ramesh providing a decent start.Sachin didn't have a good match as a batsman,but Ganguly and Laxman did manage to weave a decent web in the middle order.By end of Day 3 ,India were struggling at a score of 254/4,still trying to surprass Aussies' first innings total.Dravid was batting at 7 ,while Laxman who already had a century was batting at 109. Adding fuel to the fire, Aussies opted for a new ball in the 9th over of the day.But none of these factors had its effect on the duo. They showcased a great resilience and never failed to punish the bad balls.
The gloomy faces gradually turned optimistic at the "City Of Joy".Every single run was cheered and by the mid of the day , Indian dressing room sensed a bit of opportunity to make some inroads into the match.But the end was not near.The intentions were clear as the duo continued to torment the formidable Aussie attack.In this process, VVS Laxman transcended Sunil Gavaskar's record of highest test match score by an Indian batsman,when he went past 236.On the other side , Dravid too batted beautifully. The elegance with which both of them were playing was a demonstration of a masterclass.Aussies were clueless , as they tried 9 different bowlers to break this partnership. The midas touch that Dravid and Laxman possessed turned the match in favour of India,as every effort taken by the Aussies went in vain.Laxman scored 281 ,while Dravid scored 180 in the process of stitching a match winning 376 run partnership.Team India was clearly inspired by the efforts of Dravid and Laxman as they came back and bowled Aussies' in fourth innings,thereby sealing a historic victory.This victory provided a much needed relief to Indian fans as they were despondent due to match fixing scandals.India went on to win the subsequent match at Chennai, sealing the Border Gavaskar Trophy..
These kind of matches not only lift the morale of a particular team,but also serves as a great amabssador for the longer format of the game..
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MSD’s Return: Is CSK’s Legacy Holding Them Back?

Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out. CSK’s top batter gone at a time when the batting unit already looks shaky.. And just like that, the captaincy is back with MS Dhoni. Classic CSK move, right? Let’s be real — if Dhoni’s in your franchise squad, he’s automatically the leader. No debates there. But this wasn’t how it was supposed to go and this situation could have been easily avoided if MSD would have opted out...but that's a different discussion altogether. Giving Gaikwad the captaincy was the right step towards the future. Now, one injury later, the franchise has defaulted back to MSD- the only option they have ... It’s not about disrespecting the legend. It’s about growth. CSK has been one of the most successful teams in IPL history, but their biggest flaw? Not preparing for life after MSD. It’s 2025 and CSK still don’t have alternate leadership options in the squad.  To me,that’s worrying ... But maybe this is a turning point. The talent pool is there — Vansh Bedi, Shaik Rasheed, Ramakr...
1 comment
Read more

The Unwavering Calm: A Tribute to MS Dhoni

Every passionate cricket enthusiast cherishes moments when their idols perform under pressure, and I am no exception. While many cricketers have earned my admiration, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or MSD, stands apart. His defining characteristic, widely acknowledged by peers and fans alike, is his remarkable calmness under pressure. MSD's ability to absorb tension in critical situations and consistently guide his team to victory is legendary. Though he has played countless significant innings throughout his career, one particular match remains etched in my memory, not just for the circumstances, but for the environment in which I witnessed it and his profound words afterward. It was a crucial evening during my university days, specifically the eve of our final semester exam. The atmosphere in the hostel was charged with the excitement of impending freedom. Adding to this, it was a do-or-die encounter for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against Kings XI Punjab. My hostel wing-mates converged...
1 comment
Read more

MASTER - THE BLASTER

 Happy Birthday Master, a perfect batsman who has linked two contrasting generation of Cricket.Such is his echelon, which is a brew of text book and unorthodox modern day cricketing shots. In this space, I have quoted the nostalgic journey of the Master Blaster, in reference with his five best moments that remains fresh in my memories and would always relish my cricketing souvenir. The Sharjah Storm(134) The year was 1998. It was the night of the final, of Coca-Cola cup hosted at Sharjah. Winning the toss and electing to field, Indian bowlers gave a brisk start, but with the aid of some quality knocks from Steve Waugh and Darren Lehmann, Aussies managed a challenging 271. A run chase in the finals,a daunting target of 272,under lights. Sounds challenging, right!!? Ofcourse, it was a mammoth task to Team India. After all it was era which never knew what T20 cricket was. Ganguly and Nayan Mongia adhered to their defensive instincts,playing a second fiddle to Sachin,who was loo...
2 comments
Read more