5 overseas venues where India have achieved their most Test success

Playing away from home has not been one of the stronger suits in India's long and illustrious Test history. Their travails, especially outside the subcontinent, has been well documented. However, contrary to popular expectations, they do hold a reasonably solid Test record in quite a few famous overseas venues.

In this particular segment, let us take a close look at five iconic grounds wherein India have achieved their most Test success. Considering the disparity in conditions, only venues outside Asia are taken into consideration. These productive stadiums have been enumerated on the basis of win-loss ratios as well as relative strengths of opposition lineups.

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#5 The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

While India have registered more than one Test victories in quite a few venues away from home, their historical record at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg makes for more remarkable reading. From *four matches at the 'Bullring', they have won once and drawn the other three games. In fact, they are the only team to possess an unbeaten record at this famous venue in South Africa.

With Virat Kohli's team set to square off against the Proteas in the final Test of the 2018 series, India's undefeated streak is under major threat. The visitors will do well to take inspiration from the 123-run triumph achieved by Rahul Dravid's side in the 2006/07 series. A magical spell from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth set up India's maiden Test victory on South African soil. However, the hosts came seriously close to pulling off a record run-chase when the two teams last met in Johannesburg in 2013.

(*Note: All Statistics are accurate as of 23rd January, 2018)

#4 Headingley Cricket Ground, Leeds

Indian players celebrate their memorable triumph during the 1986 series

Headingley Cricket Ground is the only major venue in England where India hold a commendable Test record. From six Tests at the stadium, they have won twice and lost on three occasions. Their tryst with Leeds began on a horrific note as debutant Fred Trueman reduced their batting lineup to 0/4 in 1952. After two more losses in 1959 and 1967, their tide began to turn in 1979 when they scraped through for a rain-induced draw.

During their tour of England in 1986, India sealed their second series triumph in the second Test at Headingley. Fresh from an euphoric victory at Lord's, Kapil Dev's team registered a comprehensive 279-run win at Leeds. While Dilip Vengsarkar stood tall with scores of 61 and 102 not out, Roger Binny's five-wicket haul brought the England batting lineup to its knees.

In 2002, Sourav Ganguly's team made Headingley much more special by thrashing the hosts by an innings and 46 runs. Aside from the skipper himself, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar also scored sublime tons to help India rack up a daunting first-innings total. The win enabled them to level the series in an emphatic manner.

#3 Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Irfan Pathan's nine-wicket match haul propelled India to an innings win in 2005

The Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo is one of only three venues in Zimbabwe to have hosted Test cricket. The multi-purpose stadium has seen India take on the hosts on just two occasions. The visitors emerged victorious on both instances. In 2001, they notched an eight-wicket triumph under Ganguly's leadership. When the match was still in the balance, the lower-order put on a spirited showing and helped the tourists dominate proceedings.

During their 2005 tour of Zimbabwe, India routed the hosts by an innings and 90 runs. Irfan Pathan was the wrecker-in-chief. He picked five wickets in the first innings and accounted for four more victims in the second essay. While VVS Laxman scored a fluent 140, skipper Ganguly's laborious century attracted scrutiny from various quarters. Nevertheless, the comfortable victory set the stage for India's first series triumph on Zimbabwean soil.

#2 Eden Park, Auckland

Sunil Gavaskar led from the front in India's clinical victory during the 1976 series

The Eden Park in Auckland has not been much of a favourable home venue for New Zealand. They have lost 15 matches as against ten victories. Against India, the Kiwis have won only once and surrendered two games from five attempts at the stadium. Rusi Surti's all-round brilliance as well as Erapalli Prasanna's eight scalps sealed a 272-run victory and the ensuing 3-1 series triumph for the visitors in 1968.

During the 1976 tour, centuries from skipper Sunil Gavaskar and debutant Surinder Amarnath powered India to a strong first innings total. On either side of that innings, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Prasanna's exploits spun New Zealand into submission. After a couple of sedate draws, the Indians returned to Auckland for the final Test of the 2014 series. Despite a stirring fourth innings run-chase, they fell short by 40 runs to lose their first Test at the Eden Park.

#1 Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad

Sachin Tendulkar's resilient century enabled India to eke out a narrow victory in 2002

With the surface traditionally conducive for spinners, the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad has been a happy hunting ground for India. From 13 Tests at Port of Spain, they have won three matches and lost three games. More pertinently, this is the only venue outside Asia wherein they have won more than two Tests at a single stadium.

After drawing twice and losing on as many occasions from their first four matches at the Queen's Park Oval, India bucked the trend by registering a famous victory in 1971. Their spin troika of Prasanna, Bishan Singh Bedi and Srinivas Venkataraghavan weaved webs around a West Indies lineup comprising the likes of Sir Garry Sobers, Clive Lloyd and Rohan Kanhai. The seven-wicket triumph paved the way for their maiden series win on Caribbean soil.

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In 1976, centuries from Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath helped the visitors orchestrate the then successful record run-chase of 403 in the fourth innings. After experiencing a couple of draws and a defeat, India notched their third victory in Trinidad during their 2002 tour of the Caribbean. A masterful 117 from Tendulkar as well as Laxman's twin fifties evinced a 37-run triumph. The most recent Test (in 2016) at the fabled venue saw only 22 overs of play as a soggy outfield and inadequate facilities resulted in a stalemate.