3 biggest Test victories of the decade gone by

Winning a Test match by an innings is always resounding as one team outplays the other in all departments of the game. Captain Virat Kohli led India to a total of eleven innings wins over the last few years and created the record for most consecutive innings victories (four) when India annihilated Bangladesh at Kolkata during the pink-ball Test.

The biggest innings victories of the decade were registered against lower-ranked teams and the mismatch between the sides was evident. Although we witnessed competitive cricket during the last decade, there were a few one-sided contests that found a place in the record books.

Most of them featured a triumphant home side while the visitors were at the receiving end. Let us look at the top three innings victories in the last decade.

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#3 India win by an innings and 262 runs vs Afghanistan, Bengaluru 2018

Shikhar Dhawan

Afghanistan played their debut Test against India at Bengaluru and suffered a heavy defeat by a margin of innings and 262 runs. India took full advantage of the lack of experience shown by the Afghan Test team.Having won the toss, Ajinkya Rahane decided to bat first on a flat wicket that had little grass in it. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay put on a 168-run opening stand that gave India an early advantage. Centuries from both these openers helped India post a first-innings total of 474 runs.

In reply, Afghanistan got rolled over for 109 runs and gave India a lead of 365 runs. India enforced the follow-on making short work of the Afghan first innings. Ravichandran Ashwin picked up four wickets and led the Indian bowling attack. Following-on, Afghanistan could only manage 103 runs and the Test match ended inside two days. Jadeja took 4 wickets in the second innings and Shikhar Dhawan was adjudged the player of the match for his 107 runs. As a result, India won the one-off Test match and series.

#2 India win by an innings and 272 runs vs West Indies, Rajkot 2018

Prithvi Shaw

On a batting paradise at Rajkot, Captain Virat Kohli won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. Young Prithvi Shaw was drafted into the team to form a new opening pair along with KL Rahul. Showing no signs of nervousness whatsoever, the youngster slammed his debut century. Later, Kohli and Jadeja joined Shaw by scoring centuries to power India to a mammoth total of 649 in the first innings.

West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for just 181 runs with Roston Chase scoring 53. Ashwin troubled the Windies batsmen with figures of 4 for 37. Being asked to follow-on by India, Windies were all out for 196 in their second innings with opener Kieran Powell playing a lone hand scoring 83. Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav picked up a fifer and Prithvi Shaw collected the man of the match trophy for his brilliant 134.

This was West Indies' worst ever Test defeat against India and their second-biggest overall. Later, India clinched the series 2-0.

#1 New Zealand win by an innings and 301 runs vs Zimbabwe, Napier 2012

Chris Martin

Zimbabwe played a one-off Test series against New Zealand during January 2012 at Napier. Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor won the toss and decided to field first on a greenish surface. Brendon Mccullum and Martin Guptil started the proceedings with a century stand of 124 runs. Then, Captain Ross Taylor and wicketkeeper BJ Watling scored centuries to propel kiwis to a total of 495 for 7 in their first innings. Ross Taylor was forced to leave the field after suffering a tear to his right calf while batting on 122. New Zealand declared their innings with 495 on board during day three as rain washed out two sessions on day two.

Zimbabwe got skittled for their lowest total of 51 runs in the first innings inside thirty overs. The Kiwi pacers shared the spoils by grabbing two wickets each and Zimbabwe were asked to follow-on. The visitors got bowled out twice on day three as their second innings ended on 143. The Kiwis registered their highest-ever Test victory and handed the visitors their biggest defeat in terms of innings.

Kiwi speedster Chris martin was presented the man of the match for his fiery spell of bowling which gained him six wickets in the second innings. He finished with match figures of 8 for 31 in just 14.3 overs.

Ross Taylor led the Kiwis to a massive win over the hapless Zimbabweans.