Spinner Harbhajan Singh in the Instagram Live session with Ravichandran Ashwin revealed a lot of things that went into his selection during the 2001 series against Australia.
Spinner Harbhajan Singh in the Instagram Live session with Ravichandran Ashwin revealed a lot of things that went into his selection during the 2001 series against Australia.
He said he will never be able to forget the 2001 Test series as it was kind of a do or die kind of situation in his career.
During the 2001 Australia series, India lost the first match at Mumbai, however, they went on to make a remarkable comeback in the next two matches to win the series 2-1.
Harbhajan was even named as the Player of the Series after he scalped 32 wickets.
"I will never be able to forget the 2001 series against Australia, it was a do or die kind of situation for me personally as I was out of the team, the Punjab Cricket Association also did not want to me play in Ranji Trophy, I also lost my dad, but in that series, both John Wright and Dada were looking for a spinner as Anil Bhai was injured," Harbhajan said.
"I was lucky to have the support of few senior players, the management wanted someone who could bowl for long periods, there was a camp in Chennai and I was selected in the squad," he added.
The 2001 Eden Gardens Test match is still known to be one of the greatest Test victories for India.
Talking about the game, Harbhajan said: "In the second game at the Eden Gardens, we were down in the series, Australia was looking to smash us, but that game no one can forget in India. I got a hat-trick in the first innings and got my first five-wicket haul, they were 280/8, we did not know that Gillespie could hang on with Steve Waugh. They took the score to 400 plus.
"Coming to our batting in the first innings, no one was looking to stay the crease and we were not there. But the partnership between VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid in the second innings, it the best I have seen and it was incredible. In the second innings of Australia, we thought it will be a draw till the tea break on day five, but we went on win the match," he added.
In the Eden Gardens Test, India clinched a 171-run win over Australia. The Men in Blue became the third team in the history of Test cricket to win a match after being forced to follow-on.
Australia had made 445 in their first innings, however, Harbhajan Singh's spectacular seven wickets, including the first hat-trick in India's Test history stole the show.
In its first innings, India folded for 171 runs and were asked to follow-on. The Sourav Ganguly-led side went into the second innings cautiously and lost three wickets for 115 runs.
India were reduced to 232/4 and that's when Rahul Dravid joined VVS Laxman in the middle. India caused havoc on Australia in the next 104 overs as the duo stitched a 376-run stand to revive the innings.
While Dravid scored 180 runs, Laxman slammed 281, his highest score in Test cricket. India then set the target of 384 runs and the Waugh-led side were not able to achieve it.
The Aussie side were bowled out for 212, handing India a massive win. Harbhajan was again the pick of the Indian bowlers as he scalped six wickets.
This match halted Australia's record of 16 successive Test wins.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Harbhajan Singh")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}