Eden Gardens Test Triumph vs Australia Changed Indian Cricket, Says Sourav Ganguly

File photo of former India skipper Sourav Ganguly.

© AFP

Former skipper Sourav Ganguly, on Saturday, recalled India's scintillating Eden Gardens Test victory over Australia in 2001, saying it changed Indian cricket. (Also read: Sourav Ganguly unimpressed with India's preparations for Aus Tests)

"It was a fabulous Test match. Eden Gardens was special. It was a miracle. To come back from behind in a follow-on game, to get 600 runs and then bowl out the opposition in two-and-a-half sessions, those things don't happen too often in sport. I think it changed Indian cricket," Ganguly said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. (MS Dhoni can stay as captain, India can win World Cup: Ganguly)

Following-on after a massive first-innings deficit, India amassed 657 runs as VVS Laxman smashed his career-best knock of 281 and added a 376-run stand with Rahul Dravid (180) for the fifth wicket. Setting a target of 384, India then bowled out Australia for 212 to eke out an improbable and memorable win at Eden Gardens that went on to be the cornerstone of Ganguly's era as Indian captain.

Describing the victory in further detail - and with great pride, Ganguly went into the lesser-known aspects of the Eden Gardens spectacle.  

"After the third day's play, my mother-in-law came with dinner to the team hotel. I was upset how the game was poised and felt we would lose. I was quietly having my food and my mother-in-law said 'you are going to win this match.' She was trying to get me going but I didn't react," Ganguly said.

"On Day 5, Australia were three down at tea and I dropped Steve Waugh at short fine leg. I felt miserable. He was dismissed right after the tea break but we didn't realise that we would win till the last hour of play," he added.

This Indian victory also brought Australia's record run of Test wins (16 on the trot) to a crashing halt.