That whole Kolkata match was one thing else. I’d say it was the turning level of my profession, and it gave the entire workforce perception.
Lots had occurred earlier than that, particularly with the match-fixing scandal. Folks had misplaced religion. To carry them again to the bottom, you may solely do it by matches like this. Whenever you’re down, once you’ve struggled for 4 days after which combat again to win — that’s what restores perception.
From that second, I felt we had proved our mettle. After that, I don’t assume we ever appeared again. Everybody who performed in that match noticed their confidence go from one to 10.
As a workforce and as people, we realised we might beat any aspect on this planet. If we might win from that sort of scenario, there was no lack of means. We simply wanted to construct the behavior of enjoying and successful matches like that. That match gave us that perception.
Australia have been a formidable aspect. To first keep away from the follow-on after which come again to win from there — it grew to become a narrative that grew into one thing a lot larger.
Right now, once we speak to somebody who didn’t watch that match, it virtually sounds unbelievable. Like it might probably’t be actual. It appears like a movie script — and in that movie, we have been all enjoying our roles.
I don’t assume I’ve performed a greater Take a look at match or watched higher Take a look at cricket after that. Folks later debated which matches have been higher, however among the many Exams or collection I performed in, that was one of the best.
To beat an amazing workforce, we performed precisely the sort of cricket you must play. The match went deep into the fifth day. It was determined within the closing session, within the final 20 minutes. That suspense, that thrill.
I vividly bear in mind my hat-trick dismissals.
Ricky Ponting was trapped in entrance. He went for a cross-batted shot.
Adam Gilchrist was additionally LBW — we had put a little bit of thought into it. He was all the time prepared to brush. The concept was to bowl barely shorter so he needed to play off the again foot.
I principally had two sorts of deliveries for him: very full, or barely slower. If it was outdoors off, he would sweep in the direction of midwicket. If it was on the pads, he would sweep it sq., in the direction of sq. leg.
So the plan was to make him play off the again foot. On the primary day, there wasn’t a lot bounce. Even Mark Waugh’s caught-behind dismissal had solely just a little additional bounce. The ball to Gilchrist didn’t bounce a lot both. We used the shiny aspect to make it skid. It hit the pad — and he was out.
And the ball to Shane Warne was merely full and straight on the stumps.
In these days, there was no DRS. Even when it was barely outdoors off, gamers would simply pad it away understanding it wouldn’t be reviewed. So I believed: If I bowled it barely outdoors off with flight, he would possibly simply pad it away. So, I’ll bowl it full, proper on the stumps. He can’t go away it.
It wasn’t the proper supply for a hat-trick. However in life, nothing is ideal.
The catch that gave me the hat-trick, although, was undoubtedly excellent. (SS) Ramesh took one of the best catch of his life. I don’t assume he ever took a greater one.
Folks gave me numerous credit score, however Ramesh deserves simply as a lot. If he hadn’t taken that catch, the hat-trick wouldn’t have occurred.
The hat-trick wasn’t mine alone. It belonged to the entire workforce.
That sort of momentum carried by the match, and we completed it effectively.
Ramesh didn’t ask for any reward. He simply advised me, “Take me out for dinner.”
And I nonetheless haven’t taken him. (laughs)
(As advised to Vijay Lokapally)
Printed on Mar 16, 2026