Das reminisces about a great generation

Shiv Sunder Das played international cricket for just 18 months but ended up sharing dressing room with some of the country's finest ever. He also witnessed two of the most memorable moments -- first an epochal win over a marauding Australia at Eden Gardens in 2001 and then Anil Kumble bowling with a broken jaw against West Indies a year later.

"That is the one of the best Test series I have ever played," recalled Das, now the coach of the Odisha team, on that win after following-on and a come-from-behind series triumph over Australia. "The memorable thing is we came back from one Test down. The way (VVS) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid batted the whole day (of the second Test) was fantastic. I remember every bit of that. That was a great series to be a part of.

"We took it session by session. The best part is that we still believed we could come back in the Test match. And after that day, we believed we could win the match," said the 40-year-old, only the second player to represent India from Odisha, on the the sidelines of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Alur.

On Kumble's gladiatorial effort at St John's, Antigua in 2002 that still ranks as one of the sport's standout images, Das was lost for adjectives to describe it. "That was memorable. Hats off to that guy the way he came back to bowl. Doctor actually said that you cannot bowl with that broken jaw, but Anil, with his attitude, almost won the game for us."

Das also acknowledged he was privileged enough to play with one of the finest Indian teams ever. "If you look at the amount of runs that they have scored and the wickets amongst them, it's one of the greatest Indian sides. They are all legends of the game and I was lucky to be a part of the team and share the same dressing room."

Das also had many things to say about Odisha cricket that has struggled to produce players of international quality. "Honestly, we are behind other states in the country. Talentwise, we are good, but we do not have that infrastructure. Last year, we did not play any tournaments in the state. Every year we have to come to NCA for good quality practice and play in KSCA tournament and Buchi Babu.

"Last year, we did not play any games. Odisha does not have a league structure. So we mostly play 20 and 40 overs cricket, most of the guys don't play Test cricket at all. It is a tough task for them. We are trying to change the system and play a lot of games this year. Hopefully things will change."

Having taken over the team at the start of the Ranji Trophy season, Das reckons it will take time for him to bring about the changes. "I just got seven days before the Ranji Trophy to prepare the team. Now, I have been there for whole season, so next year, the goal will be to play a lot of matches and involve youngsters from the U-16 and U-19 levels where there is good talent. We are competing well. We are not playing matches and that is the area we need to work on."