4 times an Indian batsman scored 500-plus runs in a 3-match Test series

Indian opener Rohit Sharma continued his golden run in the three-match Test series against South Africa, remaining unbeaten on 117 when bad light stopped play early on the opening day of the final Test at Ranchi. India finished the day on 224 for 3, with Ajinkya Rahane giving Sharma company on an unbeaten 83.

Sharma began the Test series with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over his Test career, having failed to make it to the playing XI during the two Tests in West Indies. However, the continued poor form of Lokesh Rahul gave an ‘opening’ to Sharma, and he has grabbed the chance with both hands.

In four innings so far, Sharma has notched up scores of 176, 127, 14 and 117 not out. The new Indian opener has totaled 434 runs so far at an average of 144.66, with three hundreds. If he carries on in the same vein, he could finish with 500 plus-runs, a rare achievement for Indians in a three-match series.

In this feature, we look at the four Indian players who have managed to cross the 500-run mark in a three-match Test series.

#4 VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman amassed 503 runs during the epic Test series against Australia at home in 2001, termed by Steve Waugh’s near-invincibles as the 'final frontier'. One of the chief reasons why Australia failed to conquer the frontier was Laxman’s majestic batsmanship.

The Aussies had got a taste of Laxman's special ability during the Sydney Test in 2000, but they had no inkling what was in store in India.

Having lost the first Test in Mumbai comprehensively, India were asked to follow-on in the second Test at Eden Gardens, and the series seemed all but over. But Laxman, who made a half-century in the first innings, came in and turned the match on its head with one of the greatest Test innings ever.

During the course of his 281, Laxman featured in an mammoth 376-run partnership with Rahul Dravid (180). India set Australia a target of 384, and Harbhajan Singh’s six-for bowled India to victory in the closing moments of the Test.

Laxman made 65 and 66 in the final Test at Chennai as India won the Test by a close margin of two wickets, and the series 2-1.

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#3 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly

Former India captain and BCCI’s President-elect Sourav Ganguly notched up 534 runs in a Test series that he played at the fag end of his career, against Pakistan at home in 2007-08. Ganguly finished the series with two hundreds at an average of 89.

After making 8 and 48 in the first Test at Delhi which India won by six wickets, he made 102 and 46 in the second Test at his home ground in Kolkata which was drawn.

In the final Test of the series at Bangalore, Ganguly came up with his career best score of 239 as India batted first. The southpaw hit 30 fours and two sixes as India posted a mammoth 626 batting first, before being bowled by Danish Kaneria.

Ganguly missed out on a hundred in the second innings, as he fell for a brisk 91 from 134 balls. But he did enough to be named both man of the match and man of the series.

#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag

The swashbuckling former India opener Virender Sehwag amassed 544 runs in three Tests against Pakistan during the home series in 2004-05. Sehwag smashed two hundreds in the series, and averaged a highly impressive 90.66.

In the first Test at Mohali that ended in a draw, Sehwag smashed 173 in the first innings and 36 in the second. This game is most remembered for the 184-run stand between Kamran Akmal (109) and Abdul Razzaq (71), which rescued Pakistan from the jaws of defeat.

Sehwag made a blazing 81 and 15 in the second Test at Kolkata, but it was Rahul Dravid’s hundred in each innings that led India to a 195-run triumph.

Sehwag smashed 201 in India’s first innings at Bengaluru as India responded to Pakistan’s first innings total of 570 with 449. Younis Khan made 267 runs in the first innings while Inzamam-ul-Haq scored 184.

India needed to chase 383 to win the Test. Sehwag was run out for 38 as India went on to lose the match by 168 runs.

#1 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

The current Indian captain Virat Kohli amassed 610 runs in the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in 2017-18, with three hundreds and a fifty at an average of 152.50.

Kohli began the series with a duck and 104 not out in the first Test at Kolkata, which ended in a draw. The Indian skipper came into his own in the second Test at Nagpur, which the hosts by an impressive margin of an innings and 239 runs.

After India bowled out Sri Lanka for 205 in the first innings, they posted a massive 610 for 6 declared in response. Kohli blazed his way to 213 from 267 balls, hitting 17 fours and two sixes. The innings also saw Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma smashing hundreds before Sri Lanka crumbled to 166 in the second innings.

Kohli then blasted 243 from 287 balls as India posted 536 for 7 declared batting first at Delhi, with Vijay this time contributing 155. Kohli hit as many as 25 fours in a knock that came at a strike rate of 84.66.

Sri Lanka responded with hundreds from Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. In the second innings, Kohli made 50 from 58 balls as the game ended in a draw again.

The Indian captain was the man of the match as well as the man of the series.