Team India’s 500th Test celebrations have doubled as the men in blue ensured a mammoth 197 run win against the Kiwis at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. India were thoroughly boosted by a superb spin bowling effort by R Ashwin.
India played its first Test match on June 25, 1932 against England in Lords. The team is often said to be a stronger side when playing in its backyard. Ever since their first Test, they have recorded several wins at home, few of which remain etched in the memory forever. Here is a quick flashback.
#5 India beat Australia by 1 wicket in Mohali, 2010
Laxman’s 281 at the Eden Gardens is well remembered by all cricket fans. But he also played many other gems against the men in yellow. One of those was an epic 73 off 79 balls at Mohali in 2010, an innings that took India to a magnificent and dramatic finish to the first Test against Australia.
On an uncertain final day, the hosts slipped from 76/4 to 124/8 until Ishant Sharma (31) helped build an 81-run partnership for the ninth wicket with VVS Laxman. Yet another very very special innings, which came at the age of 35 and a back injury, left Australia surprised at how they were once again duped them by Laxman.
2016-2017 will see a long season of tests for India at home, and hopefully, many more memorable wins too.
#4 India beat Australia by 171 runs in Kolkata, 2001
Almost every Indian cricket fan has heard of VVS Laxman’s incredible 281 runs at Kolkata, which is also one of the best individual performances recorded at the Eden Gardens. In reply to Australia’s 445, India were bowled out for 171, until Laxman produced magic. At No. 3, he finished India’s second innings on the third day remaining not out on 109. Rahul Dravid also contributed 180 runs to end the 4th day with 335 runs. India eventually reached 589/4 with Laxman continuing to bat his way to a phenomenal 281.
Ganguly declared at 383, setting the visitors 75 overs to draw the match. Spinner Harbhajan Singh recorded 7/123 on Day one, which also included his and India’s first ever hat-trick. He finished with six wickets for the men in blue to win in style. This match certainly has many reasons to be remembered for.
#3 India beat Australia by 179 runs in Chennai, 1998
You cannot miss out on a Sachin-show on the list of memorable wins. This was the first match of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, which commended in Chennai. In the first innings, Shane Warne dismissed Sachin Tendulkar for only 4 runs, with Mark Taylor taking the catch at slip. However, the master blaster fired on all cylinders in the second innings, leaving the Australian bowlers looking helpless. As soon as Sachin re-entered the crease for the second innings, the ball was once again given to Warne.
Tendulkar began his assault by driving a boundary down the ground, and hitting the bowler inside-out past the extra cover when Warne tried coming around the stumps. Tendulkar’s innings was marked by some spectacular shots, very typical of him. Tendulkar scored 155 off 191, taking India to a win by 179 runs. This game is fondly remembered for the very clever batting by India’s God of cricket.
#2 India beat Pakistan by 10 wickets in Chennai, 1980
India vs Pakistan is not just a contemporary rivalry. Years before the intensity of the rivalry was the same. And a win against them by 10 wickets definitely goes down in the book of India’s best wins at home. In the winter of 1980, the Kapil Dev-led team beat Asif Iqbal's Pakistan by a whopping ten wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the six-match series.
This win should be credited to legend Kapil Dev who began the assault with four wickets in the first innings to bowl out Pakistan for 272 and later breezing his way to 84 off 98 balls to ensure skipper Sunil Gavaskar's 166 did not go to waste as the other team members failed to perform. India was leading by 158 runs, and Kapil claimed another 7 wickets in the second to make sure the target was a meagre 76 runs.
#1 India beat Australia at Kanpur, 1958 by 119 runs
Some players play cricket for years but are remembered for that one match winning knock. This win was a credit to off-spinner Jasubhai Patel who played a total of seven Tests from 1955 to 1960. The Richie Benaud-led Australian team was damaged by Patel alone, who took 14 wickets to script India’s maiden win against the Kangaroos.
His stats read as follows: 9/69 in the first innings and 5/55 in the second innings; one of the best ever bowling figures of all time. This victory was very special because back then, the Australian team was considered as unbeatable. Total five tests were played, with India winning one, Australia winning two and the other two being drawn.
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