6 makeshift Indian openers with Test hundreds

VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman

#4 Manoj Prabhakar

Manoj Prabhakar
Manoj Prabhakar

In the 90s, Manoj Prabhakar did everything the team management asked him to. He opened the batting, opened the bowling and, at other, times, batted in the middle-order. Prabhakar opened the batting in 23 of the 39 Tests he played for India, and ended up with a reasonable 958 runs at an average of 35.48.

Prabhakar’s only Test hundred came against West Indies at Mohali in a match played from 10 December 1994. After Jimmy Adams’ unbeaten 174 took West Indies to 443, India responded with 387 courtesy Prabhakar’s gutsy 120.

The all-rounder batted for 406 minutes and hit 16 fours during his stay at the crease. Batting at number 10, Javagal Srinath contributed an unbeaten 52.

Brian Lara made 91 in West Indies’ second innings and Adams and Keith Arthurton contributed 70s as the Windies set India 358 to win.

In the second innings, Prabhakar had to retire hurt for zero as a Courtney Walsh delivery hit him in the nose, and left him bleeding. A shocked India crumbled to a 243-run defeat.

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