India’s Top 7 home series wins in last two decades

South Africa’s marathon tour of India is coming to a close. There is just another session of cricket left and India has its task cut out if they were to breach South Africa’s blocking attempts. In a very short while, we will find out where exactly this win will end up in terms of significance, although it already makes it to our top 6 home wins in recent memory.India have broken South Africa’s 9-year unbeaten streak on the road, much the same way they thwarted Australia twice, to disrupt their winning streak. India has and will remain the Final Frontier, as the tracks get dustier and the batsmen get wearier of spin.Here, we take a look at some of the best series wins for India at home.

#7 India 10 Pakistan, 2007

Considering the rivalry that exists between the two teams and the number of series that have been drawn, this series win will have to be counted as special for India. India won the first Test of the series at Delhi by six wickets, Anil Kumble, the Indian skipper winning the Player of the Match.

India drew the next two although Pakistan were seven down in the final innings of the final Test. Sourav Ganguly, who scored a double ton in the final Test in a Player of the Match performance, also won the Player of the Series, having scored a century in the second Test as well.

The series was important considering India had always found defeating Pakistan at home very tough, shown by the number of times Pakistan had managed to draw in India. The memories of Chennai were still haunting India too.

#6 India 20 Australia, 2010

India has been one of the toughest opponents to Australia and this series was a reminder of that, considering Australia had a good team at their disposal just before they would touch a great low. Australia were all set to win the first test until VVS Laxman scored an unbeaten 73 in a 81 run epic partnership with Ishant Sharma to help India win by 1 wicket.

At Bangalore, India won by 7 wickets chasing down 207 in a match where Sachin Tendulkar scored a double ton to win the Man of the Match and Man of the Series and Cheteshwar Pujara made an impressive Test debut, anchoring a tricky second innings chase with a lovely 72. Sachin and Dravid then finished it off to avoid any anti-climax.

It was also Ponting’s last tour to India and by then, he had matured enough to give Dravid a massive pat on his back and encourage him to carry on for a little while longer.

#5 2015 Freedom Trophy 2015

No matter how the last day of the final Test turns out, India have made themselves proud leading 2-0 in the 2015 Freedom Trophy.

India won in Mohali and at Nagpur against a South Africa team that couldn’t come to grips with the extremely spicy, turning tracks that were exploited to the core by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both of whom picked up a Man of the Match award each. Ashwin picked up 5 and 7 wickets in the first and second innings of the third Test respectively. The second Test was washed out.

In the fourth Test, Ajinkya Rahane scored two tons in two innings to set India nicely up for a win and a 3-0 whitewash, although South Africa blocked their way through two of the five sessions that they are required to bat out.

#4 India 20 Australia, 2008

This win will be remembered for the transition as MS Dhoni took the reins of the Indian team from Anil Kumble. Dhoni captained India to two wins in the second and fourth Tests, while the other two Tests, captained by Kumble, were draws on flat wickets.

India won the second Test by 320 runs, with Dhoni taking the Player of the Match for his two breezy knocks and a new era started, against one of the best Australian teams to visit India, boasting of Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Mathew Hayden and Brett Lee.

India won the fourth Test by 172 runs with Ishant Sharma taking the Player of the Series. Considering the strength of the opponents, this series edges out the other 2-0 win India had against Australia, thanks to VVS Laxman performing one of his back-from-the-dead acts to turn defeat into victory in the first Test in 2010 in Mohali.

#3 India 21 South Africa, 1996

It was a South African team that boasted of Allan Donald and Hansie Cronje, a team that was fast building a reputation for its grit and high quality. Indians were strong at home, but defeating this team was, in particular, an achievement for an India in the pre-Fab 4 era.

India won the first Test by 64 runs thanks to a six wicket haul by Javagal Srinath. They were absolutely clobbered by South Africa in the second Test despite a six-wicket haul by Venkatesh Prasad and a sublime century by Mohd. Azharuddin. That was thanks to two tons in two innings by Gary Kirsten and more importantly, an eight wicket haul for Lance Klusener on his Test debut. India lost the match by 329 runs. But, Mohd Azharuddin, Player of the Match and Player of the Series scored an unbeaten second innings century in the third to help India win the decider in Kanpur by 280 runs and take the series. It was one of the most well-fought series wins on Indian soil.

#2 India 40 Australia, 2013

Virender Sehwags last Test series was a glorious one

For Indians, the victories against Australia are always sweet. But, this victory assumed special significance as India whitewashed Australia, thus getting their revenge after being drubbed by the same margin on their tour down under previously. MS Dhonis men humiliated Michael Clarkes Australians, who have rarely been subjected to such ignominy in living memory.

Ravichandran Ashwin took the Man of the Series and Shikhar Dhawan blazed away to the fastest debut century as Australia couldnt find a way to deal with the attacking batsmen or the spinners. India even inflicted an innings defeat in a match where Cheteshwar Pujara got a double ton after a 370 run partnership with Murali Vijay for the second wicket.

The series was also the last time Virender Sehwag was seen in India colours. Dhoni started the series on a great note with a double ton in the first Test with a 140 run 9th wicket partnership with debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

#1 India 21 Australia, 2001

Sachin Tendulkar scalps Matthew Hayden during the famous Eden Test

Probably, India’s greatest home win ever considering Steve Waugh's Invincible team were the favourites. They absolutely smashed India in the first Test by 10 wickets to extend their winning streak to 16. But Sourav Ganguly’s team wouldn’t be rolled over and after they were asked to follow-on in the second Test, the resurgence began and a new star was born.

India’s win in Kolkata after following on, with VVS Laxman scoring 281 in the company of Rahul Dravid, will go down in history as one of the greatest Test matches ever played. India won that match by 171 runs and then won the third Test by 2 wickets to take the series 2-1, an improbable situation after being one down.

There aren’t too many instances of back from a loss series wins. Kolkata and Chennai will always be remembered as India discovered Harbhajan Singh as well who spun them to victory, taking Man of the Series along with Mathew Hayden.