E X C L U S I V E

GENTLEMEN GIANTS
Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman together changed the script of Indian cricket at the Eden Gardens in 2001. Ten years later and on the cusp of what will probably be their last series Down Under, the two modern greats sit down to share the secrets of their two-decade-old friendship
By Anand Vasu
Photog ra ph b y PR I YA N K A K AU R OBE ROI
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Dravid and Laxman

I
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t hasnt been the best of times for that great game we love so much. The faithful millions who follow the game around the world, so used to hearing about the baconand-egg ties of the members pavilion at Lords and the Caribbean accents of Brixton in the neighbourhood of the Oval, two of crickets great London venues, were introduced to something entirely less edifying. Theres no reason why someone whose bread and butter is Don Bradmans average should have heard of the Southwark Crown Court. But a Pakistani trio, now languishing in jail instead of languidly inging leather or wielding the willow, have brought the world of lawyers and crime into the sports pages of newspapers.

WHEN I FIRST SAW LAXMAN BAT HE WAS 16. EVEN BACK THEN, YOU COULD SEE HE HAD THE GIFT OF TIMING.
LANGUID PANACHE
He may look lazy but Laxman is one of the most focused cricketers on the ground, says Dravid.

In faraway Cape Town, the leafy suburb of Newlands is home to another iconic home of cricket, with Table Mountain presiding over many a rout. Indian cricket lovers travelling to that great South African city usually marvel at the beauty of mountains meeting oceans, savour the ne wine of the Constantia valley and, when in need of a taste of home, head to the Bihari restaurant at the Southern Sun hotel just a few minutes walk from the cricket ground. Too few, excepting those with an appetite for gore, might have the stomach any more, as the hotel was where former Somerset skipper Peter Roebuck, adored by millions around the world for his writing brilliance, found something about life too unbearable and threw himself to his death from a sixth-oor window. Back home in India, for reasons no fans understand clearly, a West Indian side minus Chris Gayle did battle with Mahendra Singh Dhonis team. At the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi it came as no surprise that even with the onset of winter making conditions perfect for a day in the open stands of the cricket ground, the spectators stayed away. A lack of ticket counters, toilets that make

you cringe, and an all-round disdain for the paying spectator meant that a thrilling Test match was watched by a smattering of the brave. Nothing to worry about, this is Delhi, things will be ne at the Eden Gardens, we thought. As Rahul Dravid made his fth century of the year, and V.V.S. Laxman created his customary Kolkata magic, the turnout was even poorer. In the country that is the home of modern-day cricket, in the city that boasts the most passionate fans, even `100 for a daily ticket wasnt worth the bother for most. If these things depress you, youre not alone. Yet, if youre an Indian cricket fan today, theres also a lot to be thankful for. If anything, these dark incidents and disturbing trends only bring home the truth that theres so much right about the world we live in. No two men embody this more than the subjects of this story, in some ways the story of Indian cricket over the last two decades. In Dravid and Laxman, theres the staggering wealth of 34,769 international runs, 71 centuries, and a level of technical mastery, mastery of temperament and cricketing intelligence that is unsurpassed. In Dravid and Laxman, there are stories of Indias most famous victories, home and away, and a respect in the eyes of opponents that has to be seen to be believed. But more than that, theres a story of two utterly decent and honourable men, who have played every role from bashful rookies to supportive teammate, elder statesman, dedicated son, nurturing husband and doting father, with many others thrown in. Its a story whose

seeds were sown in December 1990 and was begging to be told while the two still held centrestage. And who better to do so than the men in the middle?

THE FELLOWSHIP
The first time I saw Rahul, I was on ly 16 yea r s old, L a x ma n told SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIA , his earnest and full-throated laugh never far away. I had done well for the Hyderabad under-16s and was picked to play in the under-19 team along with my skipper, Syed Moinuddin Zaki, in the same year. We were up against Karnataka and playing at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue so full of history, was a massive thrill. I still remember how stylish Rahul looked, batting in an India T-shirt, which, I later learnt, was given to him by Roger Binny. He made a hundred, something he always seemed to do against Hyderabad, even on later occasions in higher levels of cricket. Back then, Rahul struck me as someone who was studious, serious about his game and almost like a perfectionist. Dravids 108 in the rst innings of that game helped put Karnataka in charge while Laxman, batting at No. 7, managed 22 and 29 as Hyderabad struggled. When I rst saw Laxman bat, he didnt make too many runs,

S T U F O RS T ER /G E T T Y IM AG E S (L A X M A N); PRI YA N K A K AU R O B ER O I (D R AV ID)

but he already had a reputation of being this young kid who was the next big thing from Hyderabad, recalls Dravid with unmistakeable warmth. He was very obviously talented and, even back then, you could see that he had the gift and sense of timing and was a pleasing player to watch. When their paths crossed then, neither would know just how closely their lives would be entwined over the years to come. But before long, they were playing side by side, for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy in 1994. In a team led by Tamil Nadu legend W.V. Raman, the two were reunited in Jamshedpur where East Zone faced the full might of a strong batting line-up. Dravid made 148 in the second innings and Laxman was still batting so low down the order that he was not called on to make a meaningful contribution. In 1994, I had toured England with India Under-19 and the selectors decided to give youngsters who had had success a chance in the Duleep Trophy. Rahul was on the verge of playing for India and had already got a lot of runs in the Ranji Trophy, says Laxman. It was in the next year, when South Zone went all the way to win the Duleep Trophy, that the two really sealed their relationship. In 199596 we won. That year in four games I had three hundreds and Rahul had two. Ironicallyand this was the norm thenI used to bat No. 3 and Rahul No. 4. That was when we really interacted a lot and became good, close friends, says Laxman. Those days the Duleep Trophy was played on a league basis, so you travelled a fair bit and spent a lot of time together, says Dravid. So, we got to know each other quite well by the end of it. It wasnt long before the weight of domestic scores propelled Dravid into the Indian team for a dream debut at Lords where he walked after nicking one on 96. For Laxman, who people often forget is nearly two years younger than Dravid, the India call-up came a touch later, when South Africa came to India in November 1996. By the time we both got into the Indian team we knew each other quite well, says Dravid. Laxman came in after I had that successful tour of England. He made an impression straightaway with a critical knock in Ahmedabad, where Javagal Srinath bowled us to victory in the last innings. Laxman topscored with 51 in the second innings as India successfully defended 170.

DIFFERENT, YET VERY, VERY SIMILAR

You look at Dravid and Laxman at the crease and theyre a study in contrasts. Intense, focused, addressing every ball as though his life depended on it, thats Dravid. At the other end of the spectrum is Laxman, who doesnt seem to break into a sweat

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dravid & of Arms Legion laxman

even when the chips are down, and reacts to his dismissal each time with shock and horror. Yet, its easy to see why theyre thought of as two peas from the same podsincere South Indian middle-order batsmen from an educated middle-class backgroundbut the truth is, each is his own man. I am who I am in my personality. I sweat a lot on the cricket field so I give off the impression of being incredibly intense when I have a bat in hand. Laxman, the way he plays, his gait, almost everything he does, he gives off a sort of elegance, says Dravid by way of explanation. He looks lazy but hes as switched on and focused as anyone I know. Hes a lot more pleasing to the eye as a batsman. I can make things ugly at times. I can make it a bit of a chore for spectators to watch when Im accumulating runs. But even when Laxman makes only 10 runs theres no way he can make it look ugly. Even if he plays just two shots he would have done so with such timing and elegance that youll go away with those shots playing in your mind. Typically, Laxman sees things a touch differently yet is happy enough to celebrate both whats common to the two and whats unique. Our approach is very much the same. The body language, however, is different. That said, we are both from the same school of thought when it comes to cricket. There were certain things that Rahul had been taught by Keki Tarapore in Bangalore and I had been taught by my coaches in Hyderabad that were similar, says Laxman. Our emphasis is on technique, building an innings, playing session by session, and occupying the crease over a period of time. A lot of people talk about my strokeplay, but I believe that it is Rahul who is the great strokeplayer. If you look at his repertoire, he has an all-round game that few have. Both of us approach the game in a similar manner. I probably get carried away a bit initially and try and play attacking strokes from the word go. He has got the discipline to stick to his gameplan and build an innings. If youre gobsmacked that the most beautiful strokemaker in

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MY STROKES,BUT RAHUL HAS AN ALLROUND GAME. LOOK AT HIS REPERTOIRE.

the world game envies the tough-as-nails workman his repertoire, youll enjoy this. Ive learnt a lot from Laxman. Hes got a terric work ethic and and is one of the most professional guys Ive come across, either in my team or the opposition, says Dravid. All the top players Ive played with have had this balance and this sense of professionalism about their lives on and off the eld. One of the things I do enjoy about him is just how relaxed a person he is. He has an ability to get on with things and not brood. Even when hes upset, its for a short time, but hes able to bounce back with a smile and make others laugh. Thats something Ive always admired about him. After all these years, were being told that we have it completely the wrong way around. Dravid says he learnt to be professional from Laxman, and the man who has been called Very Very Special envies The Wall for his strokeplay. One thing they certainly have in common is media-given nicknames. I dont walk around thinking of myself as The Wall. Nobody actually calls me that, I just read it in print, says Dravid. It doesnt bug me to be called that, but Im indifferent to it. I dont try to live up to it.

A PARTNERSHIP BEYOND THE BATTING CREASE

One of the most common sights on a cricket eld in the middle of a long day, when the bowlers are going through the motions and the elders showing all the signs of shoulders drooping, is two men deep in conversation. At rst slip, Dravid, his brow furrowed, face creased enough to reect the state of the scoreboard and, at second slip, Laxman, throwing his hands in the air and laughing as though there was nothing wrong with the world. Just what the heck are these two talking about? We dont just talk about cricket. It depends on what stage our lives are in, whats happening at home. Now we talk about the school our kids are going to,
T O N Y L E WIS /G E T T Y IM AG E S (D R AV ID); PRI YA N K A K AU R O B ER O I (L A X M A N)

ALL PRAISE
Laxman feels his and Dravids approach to the game, with emphasis on technique and patience, are similar.

V.V. SPECIAL DIGITS

340
runs, the maximum, scored by an Indian in a Test at home. Laxman scored 59 and 281 in the second Test against Australia in Kolkata in 2001.

281
is the highest score by an Indian against Australia and also the highest score at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In 2001, when Laxman turned on the magic, it was also the highest score by an Indian. Since then, Virender Sehwag has bettered the mark twice.

55.58
is Laxmans average against the Australian bowling attack. In 25 Tests against what was the No. 1 team in the world, Laxman averages 55.58, well up from an overall mark of 47.30. Of the 17 centuries he has scored, six have come against Australia.

1,086
is the most runs Laxman has made in a calendar year. This came in 2008 when he averaged 47.21 over the course of 15 Tests.

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the state of the education system in our countrywe just discuss any general topic that comes to us, says Laxman. Its great to share these views because both of us believe that in the slips cordon you need 100 percent concentration when a catch comes your way, and for that there has to be a switch-on, switch-off mechanism. So we divert ourselves at the right time, let our thoughts wander so the mind is fresh when the bowler delivers the next ball. Naturally, Dravid corroborates this. We talk about tactics, where the game is going. We talk about cricket. We talk about our familieswe have kids of the same ages, so we talk about that. Conversation is always very varied, says Dravid, trying to explain what Laxmans guffaw is all about. Laxman does laugh loudly and infectiously. Thats one of the most beautiful things about him. When he laughs, he makes people laugh with him, and thats an invaluable thing to have in a high-pressure dressing room atmosphere in international cricket. With 572 catches between them, theres no denying the fact that these two are highly skilled slip catchers, but it is their batting together that is the oppositions headache and the fans joy. Batting with Rahul, there is a positive energy. The best thing about the two of us is that we dont try and interfere too much in the other persons game. We dont talk about technique as often as people think. If we have a chat, its usually just to understand what the opposition is trying to do, explains Laxman. The kind of technique and concentration he has, you know that Rahul is wearing down the opposition bowlers. While he does that I probably get a few loose deliveries as they attack me, and I can try and cash in on this. Ive always had big partnerships with him, not just for India. For Dravid, the best thing about batting with Laxman is something entirely different. I like his calmness at the crease. He obviously has a tremendous amount of skill, which inspires a lot of condence when youre in a partnership with him. He portrays a sense of calm and condence and you sense that if the chips are down and the heat is on, Laxman will not get ustered in

IM FASTER THAN V.V.S. IM SURE ID BEAT HIM OVER 100 METRES! LETS JUST SAY WE TAKE SAFE SINGLES.

the least bit. He will generally deliver, says Dravid. You know that if there is a tough period, Laxman is not going to back away. Hes the sort of person wholl relish it and perform. Over the years, Laxmans added toughness and steel to lazy elegance. You dont score what he has and achieve what he has by just looking good. Whatever talent and skill he had and, believe me, its not a small amount, has been honed with matching hard work and discipline and the cricketing nous to succeed all around the world. While teams around the world have been put to the sword by the flashing blades of these two knights in white, theres no denying the fact that either would need a four-wheel drive to challenge Usain Bolt. Ask them about their pace between the 22 yards and you get the rst bout of fullon laughter. I must say that Rahul will feel insulted if you compare his running with mine, says Laxman in typically selfdeprecatory fashion. One good thing about Rahul is that hes worked very hard on his tness. Because we are not quick, were cautious in taking cheeky singles. Ultimately it boils down to good judgement and thats the cornerstone of our running. And Laxman is partially right. While Dravid was not insulted, he was quick to make a point. Im faster than Laxman. Im sure Id beat him over 100 metres! says Dravid, breaking into the rst genuine smile in the course of the interview. I know were not hares between the wicket but we have a good understanding and if you look at the stats we havent run each other out much at all. Lets just say we take the safe singles and Laxman times the good balls to the boundary so he doesnt need to run too much.

LAXMAN ON DRAVID

I CANNOT SLEDGE HIM

If you could take one thing from Rahuls game, what would it be? His front-foot stride when he plays the forward defence or the cover drive. Of all Rahuls innings, which one do you think is the best? Ill pick three: His rst century, the 148 (vs. South Africa) in Johannesburg in 1997; 233 (vs. Australia) in Adelaide in 2003 and 117 (vs. England) in Nottingham this year. Of Rahuls knocks, is there one that you think is underrated? A lot of his knocks. Whenever he gets runs, its usually of huge signicance to victory. Whats the best part about batting in partnership with Rahul? The kind of technique and concentration he has, you know that Rahul is wearing down the opposition. While he does that, I can cash in. Tell us one thing about Rahul that we dont know. There are a lot of things about him that even I dont know! He doesnt share his emotions easily even with his friends. Whats the funniest thing Rahul has said to you? I still remember how excited he was after we won in Adelaide in 2003. He was having a beer, wouldnt remove his whites and we had to drag him to his room and make him sleep in his whites. If you could change one thing about Rahul? Im happy to have known Rahul the way he is. Rahuls parents should be complimented for the upbringing he has had. Which of your partnerships has given you the most pleasure? 376 in Kolkata, 2001, and 303 in Adelaide, 2003. We were able to pull the game back from difficult fficult positions and win on both n occasions. If you were playing against Rahul and had to sledge him, what would you say? Im very poor at sledging. ging. Anyway, hes too close to se me for me to sledge him. If you could grant Rahul any one thing, what at would it be? I just wish that he accomplishes all his dreams. He has a lot of knowledge edge about various aspects of ts life. Plus, he has a lovely vely family and if theyre happy, Im sure he will be too. o.

DRAVID ON LAXMAN

HE IS THE WAY HE IS
If you could take one thing from Laxmans game, what would it be? His sense of timing. Of all Laxmans innings, which one do you think is the best? His 281 in Kolkata against Australia in 2001. Of Laxmans knocks, is there one that you think is underrated? The 79 he scored in the second innings against Australia at Perth, 2008. We ended up winning by 72. Whats the best part about batting in partnership with Laxman? We dont need to say much to each other, but we understand each other well. Tell us one thing about Laxman that we dont know. He has a bath at least four times a day. Whats the funniest thing Laxman has said to you? Cant think of one. If you could change one thing about Laxman the person, what would it be? He is the way he is. Wouldnt change a thing. Which of your partnerships has given you the most pleasure? The 376 runs against Australia in Kolkata in 2001. If you were playing against Laxman and had to sledge him, what would you say? Id remind him that he tried to run a run against me and I ran him out so he should never dare take on my arm. If you could grant Laxman any one thing, what would it be? Happiness and contentment. His personality has added so much to whatever we have achieved, he deserves to be happy and content whenever he decides to stop playing.

P RI YA N K A K AU R O B ER O I (D R AV ID)

ON TOP DOWN UNDER

When you look at Laxmans career Test average of 47.30, you know this is a gure few achieve over 100-plus Tests. Yet, to see

NO. 3 IN NUMBERS
10
Test playing nations and a century in every one of them Dravid is the only batsman in world cricket to achieve the feat. His tally stands at 36.

740
minutes was the amount of time Dravid spent at the crease for his epic 270 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in 200304. No Indian has batted for a longer duration in a single Test innings.

600
runs or more in an away series the feat has been achieved by Dravid not once but twice. The only Indian to have ever done it, Dravid made 619 in four Tests (123.80) in Australia in 200304 and 602 (100.33) in four Tests in England in 2002.

28
centuries have been scored by Dravid at No. 3, the highest by any Indian batsman at that position. Only Australias Ricky Ponting (32) has more.

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that his numbers rise dramatically against Australia, the best team of his generation, only confuses the matter. What is it about the Australians that inspires this Hyderabadi? Its strange that Ive done well against Australia right from under-19s. Probably, their aggressive nature gets the best out of me, says Laxman, the most placid man in world cricket. Honestly, the rst time I realised I had the potential to play for India was when I played against Australia under-19s in 1994. Though I had played for Hyderabad from under-13s, coming from a background where my parents were doctors, I wanted to be a doctor too. It was a big thing for me when I took the decision not to pursue my medical degree after nishing school. I gave myself ve years to pursue my ambition of playing for the country. If I hadnt made the cut, I would have gone back to medical school. Even though I was practising as hard as I could and was totally dedicated to cricket, I never had the belief that I would play for the country. But that under-19 series changed things. The Aussies had a very good bowling attackBrett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Andrew Symonds, Matthew Nicholson. I was the highest run-getter for India in that series and Sandeep Patil, who was someone I admired growing up, our coach then, suddenly said in an interview that Laxman is ready to play for India. That was a huge encouragement for me at 19. Dravids graph against Australia is very different. He averages a little over 41 against the top team of his generation, and this pales in comparison to his overall average of 53. As all top professionals, though, Dravid enjoys the toughest battle the most. Australias a terric place to play. Test cricket is well supported there, the facilities are fantastic and its always a challenge. Australia were the best team in the world during the best part of my career and you always knew you were in for a tough contest when you played them there, says Dravid. Conditions are very different from what we were used to or experienced during our formative years, when we learned cricket as kids back home. The weather is beautiful that time of

AT 19, I GAVE MYSELF FIVE YEARS IN CRICKET. IF I HADNT MADE IT, I WOULDVE GONE BACK TO MEDICINE.

THE CROWN
It was at the Eden Gardens (right) in 2001 that the two players piled on 376 runs, shocking the rampaging Aussies into submission.

UNITED STANDS
376
VS. AUSTRALIA, MARCH 11, 2001, KOLKATA When Dravid (180) and Laxman (281) came together India were following on and in deep strife at 232 for four. By the time they had been separated, India were 608, and the match and series had turned dramatically. Their feat of batting a whole day broke the Australians.

303
VS. AUSTRALIA, DEC. 12, 2003, ADELAIDE Facing a mammoth rst-innings 556, India were in trouble at 85 for four. Dravid (233) and Laxman (148) turned the tables on the hosts.

PRI YA N K A K AU R O B ER O I (D R AV ID); H A MISH B L A IR /A L L SP O R T/G E T T Y IM AG E S (D R AV ID A N D L A X M A N)

197
VS. PAKISTAN, JAN. 21, 2006, FAISALABAD Faced with Pakistans rst-innings score of 588, Dravid, who opened the batting, and Laxman, who came in at No. 3, did enough to give India a lead and draw the match.

175
VS. AUSTRALIA, JAN. 2, 2008, SYDNEY While the match will be remembered for Sachin Tendulkars masterly 154 and the infamous Monkeygate incident, it was Dravid (53) and Laxman (109) who set the tone for Indias rst innings. That India lost the match is another matter entirely.

140
VS. WEST INDIES, NOV. 14, 2011, KOLKATA The comfortable margin of eventual victoryan innings and 15 runshides the fact that India were desperate for success after the 04 humiliation in England. Laxman was the Man of the Match for his 176* and Dravids good run continued with 119.

131
VS. PAKISTAN, APRIL 13, 2004, RAWALPINDI When Dravid and Laxman re in unison, it usually means big trouble for the opposition. Pakistan were at the receiving end of the longest innings by an Indian batsman, Dravids 270. Inevitably, this included a stand with Laxman. The result was victory by an innings and 131 runs.

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the year, and its just a lovely place to play cricket in. Laxmans assessment is no less warm and, perhaps, lends an insight into just why he torments the Aussies so much. When I was a child, more than watching matches in India, it was the thrill of getting up early in the morning and watching cricket in Australia, listening to legends like Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell describing the game, that got me going. That was a great learning experience for me, says Laxman. When I rst toured in 1999, we had a disastrous tour; but it was a great experience. In some ways the guys who were on that tour had a change of mindset. We approached things differently after that and became mentally tougher. The crowds are very, very sporting. They always congratulate opposition bowlers and batsmen when they do well. I know a lot of different players have had different experiences, but the Australian crowd is the most sporting one I have come across. Its a great place to play cricket, those wickets suit my game a lot. The SCG, the Adelaide Oval, the MCGyou dreamt of playing at these grounds when you were a kid and just being there was a buzz.

THE TASK AT HAND

When India show up at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the BoxTALK TIME ing Day Test of 2011, the tables are and Laxman well and truly turned. Australia are at Draviden seen are oft their lowest, having only recently been engrossed in bowled out for 47 in Cape Town, their conversation at slips, where the lowest score in 109 years. (Not since two have spent their humiliating 36 against England hundreds of hours. in Birmingham in 1902 have the Aussies folded so meekly.) India, despite a 40 loss in England, are on the rise and man for man boast a better team than Michael Clarkes Aussies. The two veterans, though, are not contemplating cashing in on a team thats down. You underestimate any Australia team at your own peril. Theyve got a very good bowling attack, irrespective of what people might think, says Dravid. Sure, they dont have an experienced spinner, but theyve got most bases covered in the pace department. Irrespective of who has retired and whos just not there, its not going to be easy, I have no illusions about that. Laxman doesnt think that simply getting on that plane will guarantee success. It wont feel any different this time, just because some players have retired or moved on. Australia, or anyone in their own backyard, is a tough proposition, insists Laxman. Theres a certain understanding of conditions and wickets that comes from playing day in and day out and no matter how many years of touring you do, it is the home side that has the advantage. You cannot compare the present team with those from the past. They were legends, led by people like Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting. To play against teams of such quality and do well makes you feel good. This Australian team also has the potential of becoming a good unit. They just need to give themselves time. That said, I always believe that if our team plays to our potential we can beat anyone anywhere.

YOU TAKE AUSTRALIA LIGHTLY AT YOUR OWN PERIL. THIS TOUR WILL BE NO DIFFERENT.
will admit that the circumstances of that Test in 2001 make his effort pale in comparison. Talking to Laxman about that innings is futile, for even he is yet to come to terms with what he did. Ask him if that innings made the rest of his life a bit of an anticlimax, and hes open and honest. Not just the 281, but that entire series was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for both the teams. Players from both sides will tell you it was one of the most challenging, entertaining and thrilling series to be involved in. To this day we all take a lot of inspiration from that series, says Laxman with disarming humility. Our overseas record has improved signicantly since what we achieved in that series. They had 1617 wins on the trot and for us to stop them was something else. At that time they were a notch higher than everyone else playing world cricket.
DA RREN EN G L A N D/A L L SP O R T/G E T T Y IM AG E S (D R AV ID A N D L A X M A N); PRI YA N K A K AU R O B ER O I (D R AV ID)

Dravid, who made 180 in a partnership of 376 with Laxman that included batting a whole day, dismisses the idea that the pinnacle achieved then makes everything that followed less special. We never judge ourselves by that benchmark. We recognise, though, that those things may only happen once in a lifetime, and you have to be very grateful that you had a chance to be a part of something like thatfor circumstances to lead you to a place where you had the opportunity to bat for a whole day, and to have been able to take it. You have to be grateful for these things, says Dravid. Its something you look back on fondly many years later, but its not something you judge everything that follows by. Its not about trying to repeat that. Circumstances are different in every match you play, and every time you step out to the middle is a unique experience. Weve both changed and grown from that match to today. It was a very special day in both our lives, but Id like to think weve both gone on and achieved a lot more since.

TWO BATS, ONE SHINING LIGHT

Look around world cricket and youll realise that most teams will take Dravid or Laxman with their eyes closed. Consider that, in India, weve enjoyed the best of these two men against the backdrop of Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and you know what a golden age youve lived through. This is without even taking into account the likes of Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan, the two modern Indian pacemen of note, Yuvraj Singh, a powerhouse in ODI cricket, M.S. Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir. When we look at Dravid, we see someone who, closing in on 40 years of age, sees every practice session as a thing of beauty and a joy forever. When we watch Laxman coax and cajole the ball to race to the fence, we see a man who was not only dropped from the ODI team well before he had outlasted his utility but someone who has been forced to play Test cricket with a sword dangling over his head. Were fortunate that these men did not see life that way. If everything they have achieved, and each small step they have taken in their lives has taught us nothing, we have learnt nothing from them. It is no oversight that this interview did not think it t to ask either of them when they might retire from the game. To hear the answer, would have been too painful. At the moment, all we want is for Dravid and Laxman to bat on regardless, for that makes the stresses of our lives that much more bearable. (Stats, by Rajesh Kumar, as of Nov. 20 )

THAT TEST, THAT SERIES

You cant sit Laxman or Dravid down, much less the two together, and not talk about the miracle of Kolkata 2001. For anyone who was there and for the rest, who watched their TV screens in disbelief from the comfort of their living rooms, that was the day Indian cricket changed forever. Laxmans innings of 281 is not the tallest score by an Indian anymore, but even Virender Sehwag, who owns that title with his insane 319 against South Africa at Chennai,

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