'That Pasta Worked For You': Ex-Indian Cricketer Recalls Telling Rahul Dravid Ahead Of Historic Day At Eden Gardens Against Australia; Video

Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim recalled how he had fed pasta to both Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, a day before the historic partnership against Australia in Kolkata in 2001. Karim disclosed that he tells Dravid to date whenever he meets him about how that Pasta helped him play an excellent knock.

The match dates back to the second of the three-Test series against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001. With the tourists enforcing the follow-on after bowling India out for 171 in response to their first-innings total of 445, the hosts bought Australia to their knees. Dravid shared a 376-run stand with VVS Laxman, with the former peeling off 180. Laxman, on the other hand, hammered 280 as India completed a dramatic turnaround to win the match.

"Match ho raha tha Calcutta mein. Us time main Calcutta mein rehta tha. Rahul Dravid aur VVS Laxman yeh etihasik din ke pehle, ek raat pehle maine mere ghar pe bulaaya tha khaana khaane ke liye. Andrew Leipus jo hamaare physio they woh bhi aaye they. Par maine kuch nahin baanaya tha. Mujhe lagta hai itne saalon ki jo meri married life hai, ho sakta hai Rashmi ne pehli baar raat mein khaana banaaya tha, Pasta banaya tha. Main abhi bhi jab jam se, Dravid se milta hoon, unko kehta hoon, 'That Pasta really worked for you'."

(The match was in Calcutta and I used to stay in Calcutta at the time. Before that historic day, I had called Laxman and Dravid to my home for dinner along with physio Andrew Leipus. I hadn't made anything but it was the first time in my married life that Rashmi made dinner. She had made Pasta. Even now when I meet Dravid, I tell him, 'That Pasta really worked for you'.)

Laxman claimed the Player of the Match award for his 59 and 281 in the match.

Rahul Dravid had won the T20 World Cup as coach

After an illustrious playing career, Dravid gathered plenty of experience as coach and replaced Ravi Shastri as India's head coach in late 2021.

The Karnataka-born cricketer stepped down in 2024 after scripting a historic T20 World Cup win for India.