The summer of 1996 was the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket.
It was the second Test of the series against England. Having lost the first Test in Birmingham despite a heroic knock by Sachin Tendulkar, Indian captain Azharuddin decided to cap two relatively unknown newcomers – Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid.
Both had done nothing remarkable till then, except playing for India under-19 and notching up good scores in the Ranji Trophy championship.
Actually, Ganguly got a place in the XI because Navjot Sidhu had picked a fight with the skipper and left for India in a huff a day before the match.
India chose to field, and ‘Mysore Express’ Javagal Srinath (3 for 76) and his state bowling partner Venkatesh Prasad (5 for 76) used the conditions well to restrict England to a modest 344.
India in those days didn’t have a settled opening pair, which meant the first wicket could fall any time. The burden then would fall on the young Sachin Tendulkar to score big and shore up the Indian innings. That was always the case.
That was what happened that day as well. India lot an early wicket, and in walked the debutant Ganguly. The left-hander middled the ball from the very beginning, after the initial nervousness wore off, unleased those classic off drives which would later earn him the sobriquet ‘God of Offside’.
His 131, which remained the highest for a debut at Lord’s, was studded with 20 fours – but none of those big sixes that were to come in torrents in the later half of his career.
By this time India lost 3 wickets, including Tendulkar, bringing the shy lean newcomer Rahul Dravid to the crease.
Ganguly was scoring freely by that time and Dravid, as is wont, took time to settle down. He was very circumspect, gave admirable support, and watched from the other end as his partner went on to the score a debut century at Lord’s.
England’s bowlers Lewis and Cork, who were instrumental in England’s victory at Birmingham, went for over 100 each. India finally ended with 429, with a lead of 85. Dravid fell for 95, cruelly missing his debut century, but showed enough glimpses of the concentration that would make ‘The Wall’ of the Indian batting line-up for years to come.
Ganguly also showcased his swing bowling, taking wickets of Nasser Hussein and Graeme Hick in the first innings and that of Russel in the second innings.
The match ended in a draw with England scoring 278 for 8 in the second innings, but India had the upper hand in the Test.
One of cricket’s greatest umpires, Dickey Bird, made his last appearance in this match. Australian Umpire Darell Hair who had no-balled Muttiah Muralitharan in a Test match in 1995 was the other umpire.
Ganguly and Dravid would come together again to create a world record in a world cup ODI.
In 1999, at Taunton against Sri Lanka, Ganguly and Dravid put on 318 runs for the second wicket, the third highest partnership in a world cup ODI match. Ganguly scored 183 runs off 158 balls with 17 fours and seven sixes. Dravid scored 145 comprising 17 fours and one six.
The Indian team – comprising Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Sehwag, Laxman and Kumble – became a major force in International cricket, with Ganguly captaining the side. Under Ganguly, India became ICC no. # 2 in Test cricket. Crowning a golden era which began in June 1996 at Lord’s.
