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VVS Laxman recalls standing ovation in Kolkata-Chennai flight after Eden heroics

VVS Laxman hit 17 hundreds and scored 8781 runs in 134 Tests - some of his innings remain masterclasses and young batsmen dream of playing with that wristy elegance and silken touch. Yet, when you think of VVS Laxman, you think of only one knock: the 281 at the Eden Gardens, which is now part of cricketing folklore.

India had lost the first Test of a three-match series in 2001 in Mumbai to a record-breaking Australian team. In hot and humid Kolkata, the Aussies had scored 445 despite Harbhajan Singh's seven-wicket haul. In response, India managed only 171. It was a matter of time before Australia stormed to another Test win - India were looking down and out for the count.

In the second innings, India appeared to offer a semblance of a fight. SS Das, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly were dismissed by the time the hosts had reached 232. Australia were sensing victory at that stage but two men had other ideas.

VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid battled cramps and the oppressive Kolkata heat to add a record 376-run stand for the fifth wicket as India clinched the match in dramatic fashion.

VVS Laxman and Team India recieved applause on their flight from Kolkata to Chennai after they defated Australia in the iconic Eden Gardens Test in 2001.

"Till then we didn;'t realise the magnitute of what we had done. From the situation we were in to win. Immidiately after the end oif the Test match we had to take a flight that same evening. When we enetered into the aircraft, all the passengers stood up and started applauding for us," Laxman reaclled at India Today Conclave South 2018.

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