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We Had Packed Our Suitcases: Former Indian Cricketer Shares Interesting Anecdote About 2001 Eden Classic


image-lf8aff8zVVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid (Source: Twitter)

One of the best Indian partnerships of all time which happened in the year 2001 against Australia, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid brought the Eden Gardens on their feet with their marvellous 376-run stand.

The partnership bore much more significance as India were batting after being asked to follow on as they were playing to save the Test for their side. Laxman recorded his career-best 281 in the game whereas Dravid stood tall to play a 180-run knock.

However, on the 22nd anniversary of this classic partnership, former Indian cricketer Hemang Badani revealed an interesting story regarding the events happening during the duration of that Test.

Badani in a couple of Tweets disclosed that a day before the partnership happened between these two, the entire team packed their bags so that they could leave as soon as the match gets over.


“Not many know that at the end of day 3 we had packed our suitcases, they were to be taken straight to the airport and the team were to go straight to the airport from the ground. And then these two batted like magicians without losing a wicket the entire day,”

Further, he mentioned that due to packing their bags on a prior basis, their luggage was transferred to the airport and as a result, they couldn't get their belongings for quite some time.


“When we got back to the hotel, we didn’t have our suitcases and were stuck with our match gear and tracks until about 9 PM or so. Lot of us ate dinner at the hotel restaurant in our whites.”

India posted a massive total of 657 on the board after which they bowled Australia out for 212, hence winning the game by a margin of 171 runs.