3 splendid batting efforts that changed the course of Indian cricket

#1. VVS Laxman's 281 against Australia at Kolkata in 2001

Second Test - Day Five: India v Australia

In the second Test of the series against India in early 2001, Australia scored 445 in the first innings the match. India were bowled out for 171 in their first innings. No batsmen apart from VVS Laxman managed to put up a fight.

India were asked to follow-on. The openers Shiv Sunder Das and Sadagoppan Ramesh gave a good start but got out at 39 and 30 respectively. Tendulkar also departed after scoring 10 runs. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly steered the Indian innings and took the score to 232 when the Indian captain had to depart.

Laxman was joined by Rahul Dravid and the pair stitched together one of the most famous partnerships in the history of cricket. They played proper cricketing shots with perfect technique and temperament.

The Australian attack was led by Glen McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne. There was a lot of sledging by Australian players, but Laxman batted with all grace and humility. He got out when the scoreboard read 608/5. He made 281 runs in 452 balls which included 44 boundaries. Dravid too played a magnificent innings of 180 runs. It was a marathon effort by both of them.

Laxman got a standing ovation by everyone, including the opposition. India won the match by 171 runs. This innings sowed the seeds of belief, character and conviction within the Indian team. Since then, the Indian team has grown from strength to strength.