Why is Laxman’s 281 greatest Indian innings? Dravid explains
Bengaluru, December 21
Rahul Dravid believes VVS Laxman’s epic 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001 is the “greatest innings by an Indian”.
“I really had the best seat in the house for the greatest Indian innings ever played,” Dravid said.
“Without a doubt, I think the 281 was probably one of the most significant and greatest innings played by an Indian cricketer, in terms of the context, the consequence the innings was played in,” Dravid said during a discussion last night at the launch of Laxman’s autobiography.
“I was still imagining him and visualising him, stepping outside the leg-stump and hitting Shane Warne through the covers, for a ball that is pitched yards outside the leg-stump,” Dravid said about Laxman’s amazing ability to use his wrists to strike the ball all around the field.
“Or to be able to flick a ball on the middle and off-stump on a turning track in Kolkata, across the line, against a great bowler like Shane Warne,” Dravid continued. “Or driving Glenn McGrath or Jason Gillespie. The way he did it, I think, for me, it was an incredible experience, watching him bat.”
Dravid, who hit 180 and stitched 376-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Laxman, said he gained in confidence watching Laxman bat. “To be honest, I was not in the greatest of form leading into that particular innings. By the time I went into bat (at No. 6), Laxman was batting at 90-odd. I was not playing well in that series and watching him play gave me a lot of confidence,” he said.
Laxman said he and Dravid played according to the merit of the ball and hardly conversed. “It was a terrible situation for all of us to be in,” he said. “All we did was, playing according to the merit of the ball. And we did not have too much of conversation. All we did was punch the gloves and said ‘one more over’. We broke it down into small goals.”
On a lighter note, Dravid said when he came in, he was keen to have a conversation with Laxman, but it wasn’t easy. “He had so many of his routines, like, he will tap the gloves, then he will go to the crease, mark seven times this side and six times the other side,” Dravid said with a laugh. “Then Laxman will come and stand. He was in such a rush to do all his lines that there was no time to have a conversation. I am waiting there to talk to Laxman and he is busy marking lines. I always used to pull his leg about it.” — PTI
