5 times India won an overseas Test despite conceding the first innings lead

We often speak about the importance of the first innings of a Test match and how important it is to do well and set up the game in the first innings (with either bat or ball).

However, Test cricket often gives a team the second chance (i.e. second innings) to make a comeback. And that’s where the beauty of the longest format lies.

We’ve seen this happening to India over the years when they travel abroad. They take time to adjust to the conditions and then make an impact in the second innings.

Hence, here we take a look at 5 instances (or Test matches) where India won a Test match away from home despite conceding the first innings lead.

Note – Only Test matches outside Asia have been taken into consideration.

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#5 The Oval - 1971

When India toured England in 1971, they were still chasing their first Test win in the UK. By the time the third Test of that series came, they had 15 losses out of 19 Tests in England and it looked like they would have to wait for some more time for their first win in England.

However, the positive was that the series was still level at 0-0 when the teams moved to The Oval for the third Test. England won the toss and batted first. The hosts were kept down to 355 as Eknath Solkar took 3/28 and the spin trio of Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Venkataraghavan took two wickets each to contain the English batsmen.

In reply, most of the Indian batsmen got starts but none of them could convert it into a big score as they could only manage 284. Off-spinner Ray Illingworth took a fifer to give England a vital lead of 71 runs. However, a fantastic spell from Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (6/38) helped India skittle out the hosts for just 101 in the second innings.

India were set a target of 174 in the fourth innings and they chased it down to make history as they registered their first ever Test win in England. It was skipper Ajit Wadekar top-scored in that run-chase with 45.

Brief Scores: England 355 (John Jameson 82, Alan Knott 90, Solkar 3/28) and 101 (Luckhurst 33, Chandrasekhar 6/38) lost to India 284 (Dilip Sardesai 54, Farokh Engineer 59, Ray Illingworth 5/70) and 174/6 (Ajit Wadekar 45, Dilip Sardesai 40, Derek Underwood 3/72)

#4 Port of Spain – 1976

Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath scored superb tons in the 4th innings.

A lot of people remember this win as it was India’s highest ever successful run-chase in the fourth innings (and second highest in the history of the game at that time). India chased down 403 against a formidable West Indian bowling attack. But, India were behind the game for most parts of it.

Batting first, West Indies scored 359 and it was Sir Viv Richards who stood out with a magnificent 177. Bhagwat Chandrashekar and Bishan Singh Bedi took 6/120 and 4/73 to restrict the hosts. None of the Indian batsmen got going in the first innings as they were bowled out for 228 conceding a big lead of 131 runs.

Alvin Kallicharan scored a superb unbeaten 103 as the Windies declared at 271/6 to set India a target of 403. Chasing a daunting target, India’s top-order batted extremely well and set-up the run-chase. Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath registered brilliant tons and Mohinder Amarnath contributed with 85 as India completed a record run-chase with 6 wickets in hand.

Brief Scores: West Indies 359 (Viv Richards 177, Clive Lloyd 68, Chandrashekar 6/120, Bedi 4/73) and 271/6 dec (Kallicharan 103*, Venkataraghavan 3/63) lost to India 228 (Vishwanath 41, Madan Lal 42, Holding 6/65, Imtiaz Ali 2/35) and 406/4 (Gavaskar 102, Vishwanath 112, Amarnath 85, Jumadeen 2/70)

#3 Melbourne (MCG), 1981

Kapil Dev took 5/28 as Australia were bowled out for 83.

In 1977/78, India came very close to winning a Test series against Australia in Australia for the first time. Thus, when they toured down under again in 1980/81, there was a great chance. However, the tour was off to a poor start for India as they lost by an innings and 4 runs in the first Test. After the second Test was drawn, India were under pressure. After being put into bat by Australia, India failed with the bat once again as they were bowled out for 237. Only Gundappa Vishwanath stood up against the formidable Aussie pace attack stroking a brilliant 114.

Australia then consolidated their position of strength by posting 419. India then trailing by 182 runs, got bowled out for 324. Defending a modest total of 143, Kapil Dev and Karsan Ghavri bowled superbly to help India complete a famous win and level the series 1-1. Australia were bowled out for 83 in their second innings.

Brief Scores: India 237 (Vishwanath 114, Lillee 4/65, Pascoe 3/29) and 324 (Gavaskar 70, Chetan Chauhan 85, Lillee 4/105, Yardley 2/65) beat Australia 419 (Border 124, Walters 78, Dilip Doshi 3/109) and 83 (Walters 18*, Kapil Dev 5/28, Ghavri 2/10)

#2 Adelaide – 2003

Rahul Dravid was simply superb in that Adelaide Test in 2003.

After playing a thrilling series in 2001 in India, and even though India had performed poorly in Australia on their previous tours, the 2003-04 Australia-India series down tour was one of the most anticipated ones.

India started the tour with a draw at the Gabba in Brisbane. At Adelaide (in the second Test), Australia batted first and posted a mammoth 556 in their first innings. Ricky Ponting scored a magnificent 242 as the Aussie batting dominated the Indian bowling attack.

In reply, India slipped to 85/4 and a familiar overseas struggled beckoned. However, Aussie tormentors VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid had other ideas. They forged a superb 303-run partnership for the 5th wicket to get India back in the game. VVS Laxman scored 148, but Rahul Dravid converted his hundred into a memorable double ton (233). The two knocks helped India get to 523.

In the second innings, with a lead of 33 runs, Australia were still ahead on the fourth day when they started their second innings. But an inspired spell from Ajit Agarkar (6/41) helped India bowl Australia out for 196.

Chasing 230, it was Rahul Dravid once again who top-scored and guided India to a famous win down under (their first since 1981).

Brief Scores: Australia 556 (Ponting 242, Katich 75, Kumble 5/154) and 196 (Gilchrist 43, Waugh 42, Agarkar 6/41, Tendulkar 2/36) lost to India 523 (Dravid 233, Laxman 148, Bichel 4/118, Katich 2/59) and 233 for 6 (Dravid 72*, Sehwag 47, Katich 2/22)

#1 Lord’s – 2014

Ishant Sharma finished with 7/74 as India got their first Test win at Lord’s after 28 years.

In 2013 and 2014, India were playing away from home for quite a while. They had toured South Africa and New Zealand but were unsuccessful on both those tours which just extended their lean phase overseas (which started in 2011).

In 2014, the England tour got off to an encouraging start for the visitors with India managing to hold onto to a draw in the first Test. When the action shifted to Lord’s for the second Test, a green carpet (a very grassy and green pitch) was rolled out.

England had absolutely no hesitation in bowling first on a surface which had a lot of moisture and grass on it. India were in some early trouble as they were reduced to 145/7. However, a counter-attacking 103 from Ajinkya Rahane and a calm 36 from Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped India get to 295 in their first innings.

India did well with the ball, but Gary Balance with a fine 110 and some important lower-order contributions ensured England sneaked past India’s total and finished with 319.

Trailing by only 24 runs, India were off to a decent start in the second innings. But wickets at regular intervals pegged India back as they slipped to 235/7. With a lead of only 211 at that stage, the game was slipping away. However, a counter-attacking 68 from Ravindra Jadeja and another calm innings from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (52) helped India set England a target of 319.

England in their run-chase lost their way early as they were reduced to 72/4. But Joe Root (66) and Moeen Ali (39) revived England’s hopes with a timely century stand for the fifth wicket. After the 101-run stand, Ishant Sharma produced a memorable spell bouncing out the English batsmen to help India win the game. Ishant finished with 7/74 as India got their first Test win at Lord’s after 28 years.

Brief Scores: India 295 (Rahane 103, Bhuvneshwar 36, Anderson 4-60, Stokes 2/40) and 342 (Vijay 95, Jadeja 68, Bhuvneshwar 52, Stokes 3/51, Plunkett 3/65) beat England 319 (Ballance 110, Plunkett 55*, Bhuvneshwar 6-82, Jadeja 2/46) and 223 (Root 66, Ali 39, Ishant 7-74, Shami 1/33)