3 memorable overseas Test wins for Team India in the decade gone by

As the new decade begins, Team India will look to scale greater heights in the across all the formats. The previous decade between (2010-2019) was a great one for Indian cricket with wins in global limited overs tournaments as well as Test-match wins in overseas. 2019 was particularly good for Team India with 7 Test wins out of 8 Test matches overall. The team, led by Virat Kohli, performed outstandingly and the win percentage speaks for itself. This was largely due to the foundation that was laid in the previous years and the bench strength that was developed through IPL and first-class cricket. Many veterans have retired since 2010 and despite this, the youngsters have stepped up on to the bigger stage and proved themselves worthy.

Despite losing a few Test matches overseas, Team India has always been competitive and has notched up some memorable Test wins overseas in the previous decade. Let us look at 3 memorable overseas test wins by Team India in this decade of new heights.

---

#3 2014 Pataudi Trophy - 2nd Test between England and India, played at Lords

This was India's first Test win at Lords after 1986

This was in 2014 when Team India toured England for a 5-match Test series followed b7y 5 ODIs and 1 T20I. The tour kicked off with the first Test ending as a tame draw at Trent Bridge. The 2nd Test match at Lord's had a green deck to offer and India was put in to bat first by England after winning the toss. India was down in the dumps at 7-145 however, a brilliant 90-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India in resurrecting the innings. Rahane scored a brilliant 103 against a potent England bowling line-up and India reached a respectable score of 295 in their first innings.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar turned up the heat during England's innings as he picked up a career-best 6-82 that limited England's score to 319. Gary Ballance top-scored for England with a dogged innings of 110.

Trailing by 24 runs, India played cautiously weathering the storm from the English bowlers. Murali Vijay held one end up while wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Aided by cameos in the lower order the Indian batsmen managed to put up a score of 342 runs in the second innings. Murali Vijay was the top scorer of the innings with 95, while Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar scored valuable half-centuries in the lower order.

England required 319 to win the Test match with a day and a half to spare. Ishant Sharma who went wicket-less in the first innings bowled the spell of his career. He started off by picking up the key wicket of Ian Bell and followed it up by a brilliant bouncer that got rid of Moeen Ali before lunch on day 5. The short ball theory worked big time as the tall fast bowler picked up the wickets of Joe Root, Matt Prior, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad in quick succession. James Anderson was the final batsman to be dismissed through a run-out and India completed a memorable win at Lord's. England were all-out for 223 and India won by 95 runs.

Why is this win so special?

It was 28 years then since India last won a Test match at Lord's. The previous triumph at Lords was in 1986 and India went into this game (2014) with the odds heavily stacked against them. A memorable win indeed.

Murali Vijay played a crucial knock.

#2 2010-2011 2nd Test between South Africa and India played at Durban

This was India's 1st Test win in Durban and second overall in South Africa

This was the 2nd Test match of the series between hosts South Africa and India played at Durban. After suffering an innings defeat at Centurion, Team India had an uphill task to turn their fortunes around in Durban. Put in to bat first on a cloudy day, the Indian batsmen looked all at sea against a potent South African bowling attack that comprised Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Paul Harris. Virender Sehwag (25), Murali Vijay (19), Rahul Dravid (25), Sachin Tendulkar (13), VVS Laxman (38), CA Pujara (19), M.S Dhoni (35), Harbhajan Singh (21) all got starts but none of them managed to capitalize and India were bundled out for 205. Dale Steyn picked up 6 wickets, while Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe picked up 2 wickets each.

With a paltry score to defend, Indian bowlers stepped up their game and managed to create early inroads into the South African batting line-up. Harbhajan Singh picked up 4 wickets for 10 runs in 7.2 overs and South Africa were bundled out for 131 runs in 40 overs. While Harbhajan picked up 4 wickets, Zaheer Khan accounted for 3 dismissals ably supported by Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma who picked up 1 wicket each.

With a lead of 74 runs, India got off to a racy start thanks to Virender Sehwag who scored a quickfire 32 but after he was dismissed the wickets kept falling at regular intervals and it was VVS Laxman who resurrected the Indian innings with a brilliant 96 that helped India reach a score of 228 in their second innings.

Harbhajan was in great form.

The Proteas required 303 runs to win and they got off to a good start with an opening partnership of 63 runs between Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen. However, after the fall of the first wicket, none of the South African batsmen managed to score big and in the end, they were bowled out for 215 in their second innings. Ashwell Prince was the top scorer with the bat with 39 not out. Among the Indian bowlers, Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth picked up 3 wickets each, while Harbhajan Singh picked up 2 wickets and Ishant Sharma picked up 1 wicket.

India won the game by 87 runs and for his brilliant knock of 96, VVS Laxman was awarded the Man of the Match.

Why is this win so special?

India suffered an innings defeat in the first Test at Centurion. After being put in to bat first, India were on the back foot after the end of the 1st Innings. However, it was the bowlers who stepped up their game and won the match for the team. This win was India's second-ever Test win in South Africa and the first even in Durban. India not only managed to win the Test match but also went on to level the series 1-1 by the end of the series.

VVS played a special hand.

#1 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy- 3rd Test between Australia and India played at Melbourne

This was India's first test series win in Australia

This was the 3rd Test match played between hosts Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Electing to bat first, India notched up a solid total of 443/7 dec in their first innings. Cheteshwar Pujara scored a brilliant 106, while skipper Virat Kohli (82), Rohit Sharma (63), Mayank Agarwal (76) all scored runs against a potent Australian bowling line-up.

Jasprit Bumrah put in a brilliant spell of fast bowling as he ripped apart the Australian batting unit and ended up with bowling figures of 6-33. Australia were bundled out for 151 with Tim Paine and Marcus Harris being the top scorers with 22.

Pujara (right) top scored in the first essay.

India didn't enforce the follow-on and on a wearing pitch the Aussie bowlers stepped up their game. Pat Cummins ran through the top order and Indian batsmen were all at sea. Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant scored 42 and 33 respectively before skipper Virat Kohli declared the innings at 106-8.

Australia required 399 runs to win in their last innings in bowling friendly conditions. The top order failed again with no big scores and although there was a late flourish with the bat from Pat Cummins (63), the Indian bowlers completed a memorable win on the last day.

Australia were dismissed for 261 and India won the game by 137 runs. For his brilliant spell of bowling, Jasprit Bumrah was awarded Man of the Match.

Jasprit Bumrah.

Why is this win so special?

With this win, India took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the Test series and went on their 1st ever Test series win in Australia after a draw in the final Test at Sydney. India achieved the rare record of being the first and only sub-continent team to win a Test series in Australia.