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a colossus. So prolific was his run-making innings after Australia had scored 445.
throughout his long career, Tendulkar Following on, the situation looked grim
constantly earned comparisons with Sir when Laxman and Dravid teamed up.
Donald Bradman, the Bhishmah Pitamah of Having lost the first test at Mumbai, India
batting. were on the cusp of losing the second Test
Between them, Azhar and Tendulkar and the series. What transpired over the
performed outstandingly, individually next couple of days makes for one of the
and together, providing some scintillating more astounding stories in cricket.
partnerships in the 1990s which made Laxman and Dravid thwarted the Aussie
India the most popular team in the world. bowlers heroically, batting out an entire
Azhar’s career sadly ended with day without being separated. Laxman man-
allegations against him in the match-fixing made 281, perhaps the greatest innings in
scam that erupted in 2000. He had played Indian cricket history. Dravid, stoical in
99 Tests. support at the other end, made 180. By the
Tendulkar went on to play for 13 years time the partnership was broken, India
more. Fittingly, he was part of the World were well into the lead and the pressure
Cup winning team of 2011 after 5 futile was now on Australia to stave off defeat.
attempts earlier. The Aussies couldn’t. India not only went
He finished with 200 Tests, the most on to win the Test, but also the series.
runs and centuries, and a slew of records The fabulous partnership between
in ODI’S too. He had played out such a Dravid and Laxman was to spark a sense
distinguished career that the sobriquet of self-belief in India which saw the team
`God of Cricket’ seemed a perfect fit. perform superbly against all teams in the
ensuing years. India’s overseas record had
been woeful. After the Dravid-Laxman
jugalbandi at the Eden Gardens, which
film-obsessed fans also compared them
to the Viru-Jai jodi of blockbuster Sholay,
performances overseas saw a surge of
excellence.
Image courtesy: espncricinfo after losing an early Test. So too in
In 2002, India drew a series in England
Australia In the same year, India beat
Pakistan in Pakistan for the first time. In
all these contests, the Dravid-Laxman duo
provided sterling partnerships.
Dravid’s consistency and reliability even
under extreme pressure earned him the title
Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman wrote of `The Wall’. Laxman’s wristy elegance, in
themselves into cricket folklore with their the same mould as Vishwanath and Azhar,
376 runs-partnership against Australia saw his initials VVS mark him out as Very
at the Eden Gardens in circa 2001. India Very Special. Both descriptions were most
had been bundled out cheaply in the first apt.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #61 | JULY 2024 31
