The 2000/01 Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia had plenty of historic moments from big stars, but here are ten players you have almost certainly forgotten about.
From VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s efforts in Calcutta, which helped India clinch the match after following on, and broke Australia’s 16-match-winning streak to Harbhajan Singh’s hattrick, the series had a number of memorable incidents. Though both sides had some of the game’s legends in action, a few fizzled away soon after.
Shiv Sunder Das
Das made his Test debut in November 2000 and entered the Australia series on the back of a hundred, against Zimbabwe in his third Test. He struggled in the first Test match, but played key cameos in the second.
The highlight was his knock of 84 in the first innings at Chennai, helping India post 501 on the board in reply to Australia’s 391. He faced 447 balls across six innings, and played a huge role in blunting out the lethal pace attack.
Das could only play 23 Test matches and ended with an average of 34.89. He was appointed the head coach of the Barbados cricket team in 2017 and has also completed a Hybrid Level 2 Coaching Course offered by the NCA last year with 75 percent weightage.
Sadagoppan Ramesh
A delight to watch when on song, Ramesh left the cricket fraternity in awe with some breathtaking shots in his first three Test matches, all against Pakistan. He opened with Das during the series, finishing with 162 runs at an average of 27.
As was the case throughout his career, Ramesh got some starts – he reached 25 four times – but crossed fifty only once. In the first innings in Chennai, he stitched together a 123-run stand with Das, which laid the foundation for their eventual series win.
Ramesh played eight more Tests after the series, retiring after 20 Tests with an average of just below 38. He has acted in movies since then and has opened up a Karaoke studio in Chennai.
Sameer Dighe
One of many wicketkeepers tried by India in the first half of the 2000s, Dighe made his Test debut in Chennai, replacing Nayan Mongia. He was unable to contribute in the first innings but the second-innings cameo is fondly remembered by Indian fans.
India were chasing 155. Dighe walked in at 122-5, saw them collapse to 135-7, and took on the onus thereafter along with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh. His efforts helped India win the series 2-1.
Dighe played only six Tests in his career and has taken up coaching stints since then. He was at the helm when Tripura reached the Vijay Hazare knockouts for the first time in 2021.
Michael Kasprowicz
Kasprowicz had routed India in Bangalore when Australia had toured India in 2000/01, but found it difficult to retain a place in a strong Australian outfit. He got a call-up to the series after 15 months, played at Eden Gardens, and got Sourav Ganguly and Mongia.
However, he was left without much success thereafter. In the second innings, he toiled for 35 overs – the second-most by an Australian in the innings – and went for 139 runs as VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid frustrated Australia for an entire day. Kasprowicz did not play another Test till 2004.
He was the non-Executive director of Cricket Australia and the Interim CEO of Queensland Cricket for eight years before stepping down from the post in 2020.
Sairaj Bahutule
Yet another debutant at the third Test in Chennai, Bahutule had Mark Waugh as his maiden wicket, caught by substitute fielder Hemang Badani for 70. He had Justin Langer in the second innings, but played only one more Test thereafter.
Bahutule went on to work as a bowling coach with the National Cricket Academy, was the bowling coach of the triumphant Indian side at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, and is currently the spin-bowling coach at Rajasthan Royals.
Nilesh Kulkarni
The slow-arm orthodox bowler from Mumbai picked up a wicket in his first ball in Test cricket, against Sri Lanka in 1997, but was unfortunate to play in the game where the hosts piled on 952-6. Kulkarni send down 70 overs for 195 runs on the flattest of wickets.
He played two more Tests in his career over the next four years, with the Chennai game against Australia being his last. Kulkarni sent down 53 overs in the game, picking only one wicket.
Since then, Kulkarni has founded the International Institute of Sports Management in Mumbai, which has been honoured the President of India in 2020.
Colin Miller
‘Funky’ could move the ball both ways while bowling seam, but he switched to off-spin bowling after an injury in 1998. He picked up 69 scalps in 18 games but playing only one on the tour, at Chennai, and was the most successful Australian bowler in the game, picking up six wickets across innings, but did not play a Test again.
Miller picked up 446 first-class wickets, and announced his retirement in 2002 from all forms of cricket. He is currently an engineer in Las Vegas, where he resides. It is not known whether he still colours his hair in the most absurd hues.
Venkatapathy Raju
Raju provided perfect foil to Anil Kumble in the 1990s, particularly at home, and played 28 Tests over 11 years, the last of which was at the Eden Gardens. Playing his first Test match three years, Raju picked up one expensive wicket.
‘Muscles’ was earlier the selector for the Indian Cricket Team from the South Zone during 2007-08 when India won the Men’s T20 World Cup. He was also the vice president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association.
Rahul Sanghvi
For a long time, Sanghvi’s 8-15 were the best figures in List A cricket. He made his ODI debut in 1998, but was forgotten for three more years before a surprise call-up for the Australia series. He debuted in Mumbai, where he got Steve Waugh early to help Harbhajan Singh reduce Australia to 90-5. But Adam Gilchrist went after him, and he finished with 10.2-2-67-2, and did not play another Test match.
Sanghvi is currently the team manager of the IPL team Mumbai Indians.
Damien Fleming
Fleming did a hat-trick on Test debut against Pakistan in 1994 but his career was hampered by injuries throughout, which saw him play just 20 Tests over the next 11 years. When fit, his outswing and high action made him a real threat. His played only in Mumbai, and bowed out with a match-haul of 1-99 in 30 overs.
With Jason Gillespie peaking, Kasprowicz and Andy Bichel around, and Brett Lee having debuted, Fleming did not make a comeback. He picked 75 wickets at just over 25. He has taken up a coaching role in Adelaide since then and is currently working as a commentator.
