31 Comments
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Arvind's avatar

What does it say about your writing that it felt more intimate than watching the game itself?

Laxman’s coming of age was that test. I always thought he handled a cricket bat like a badminton racquet. Steering it at just the last moment.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Arvind. :) Very kind.

Laxman and Harbhajan, both. Their careers truly took off from there. To an extent, even Dravid's.

Hitesh's avatar

So, so good Sarthak. Gets even better on repeat reading.

Took me back to 2001, me following the game on All India Radio, while travelling between my paternal and maternal grandparents' villages. Had no radio access post lunch that day only to get the shock of my life next morning to see Dravid and Laxman still batting. Once in a lifetime feeling and your writing took me back to that day.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Hitesh :) Once in a lifetime match! Such incredible memories.

Feroz's avatar

Exquisitely written

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Feroz :)

Cerin Pathrose's avatar

Wonderful writing

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Cerin :)

Ganesh's avatar

Lovely read of a storied test match. There have been many good perspectives on this classic test and this article can join that group. I do feel that the equally crucial and thrilling final test match in Chennai loses out its place as a classic because of the Eden test. Much like Dravid ceding space to Laxman.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Ganesh. :)

On the contrary, I feel Eden became a bigger event because Chepauk supplied the correct context. In a lost series, Eden would be a half-remembered miracle.

Ruchik Doshi's avatar

Man ..what a piece! brought back so many memories..I was in grade 10, board exams were on and my mind was only on the match..superlative writing

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thanks, Ruchik :)

Shekar's avatar

A legendary test match - and it was wonderful to read your brilliant telling of the story! Thanks!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you for reading!

Suryansh Tomar's avatar

I have only heard legends about this test match. Maybe, watched a few highlights here and there, some shorts every now and then. But never felt the importance of this match, until today. You are the VVS Laxman of sports writing Sarthak!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Suryansh! Remains one of the greatest matches I've watched, across sports, so I'm very glad this could reflect its significance :)

Sourabh Bhutani's avatar

Exceptional writing Sarthak. This article will be as memorable as the test itself.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Sourabh :) That's very kind of you.

Parashar Thanki's avatar

This deserves to go down as one of the all-time great articles ever written about cricket.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Ayy thanks man :) Too kind!

Ashish Chatterjee's avatar

Brilliantly written....rekindled the fading memories 😊

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you :)

Hemanth Rao's avatar

Great writing, made me nostalgic.

Osho's avatar

Good one.

Ravishankar Iyer's avatar

Stunning prose. Paints such a vivid and pulsating picture of the remarkable test.

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Ravi!

Anish Ramachandran's avatar

This was a riveting read, Sarthak! Every word. Every emotion. Thanks!

Sarthak Dev's avatar

Thank you, Anish :)

Thoughtful India's avatar

Haven’t watched a full cricket match in almost 19 years.

This made me nostalgic for a cricket crazy childhood.