Felt Like Whole Nation Was Celebrating India's Epic Eden Gardens Test Win Over Australia: Laxman

India ended Waugh-led Australians 16 match winning juggernaut in Tests after the hosts snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Eden Gardens and then went onto win Chennai Test to clinch the historic series 2-1.

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid

Indian cricket batting great V.V.S. Laxman created a bit of nostalgia among cricket fans as he went back into time to fondly remember India's epic win over Australia in the 2001 Eden Test at Kolkata. Laxman recalled that while the Sourav Ganguly-led side hardly had any time to reflect over the miraculous performance, it felt like the entire nation was celebrating the stupendous victory with the team. India ended Waugh-led Australians 16 match winning juggernaut after the hosts snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Eden Gardens and then went onto win Chennai Test to clinch the historic series 2-1. Laxman produced one the best performances with the willow by scoring a career high 281 runs, stitching a valiant partnership with Rahul Dravid (180) to help India overturn a precarious position after managing just 171 in the first innings in reply to Australia's 445. India declared on 657/7 in the second essay and bowled the Aussies out for 212 to win the Test by 171 runs. Laxman was adjudged Man of the Match. "We immediately had to go to Chennai. There was very little time to celebrate, but it felt like the whole country was celebrating along with us after that victory," Laxman told the Times of India in an interview. Harbhajan Singh was terrific with the ball, finishing the series with a whopping 32 wickets, including a hat-trick in the Eden Test. Laxman said that performance was the best he has seen of the veteran off-spinner especially at such a young age and in his comeback series. He also lauded then captain and now BCCI President Sourav Ganguly for showing faith in 'Bhajji' as he is fondly known. "For a youngster making a comeback into the team, it was brilliant. Of course, he got a lot of confidence from Sourav, who backed him to the hilt because there was no Anil Kumble or Javagal Srinath. "It was very tough to hit Bhajji the way he was bowling. The best part was Bhajji taking a hat-trick. The confidence levels suddenly changed after the hat-trick. Some brilliant catches as well," Laxman recounted.