7 defining Test innings by Indian batsmen that were not centuries 

Image result for Virender Sehwag – 83 vs England (Chennai, 2008)
Sehwag completely dominated the England bowling attack

India is often known as a batting country and the fans love watching their stars (batsmen) getting hundreds and celebrating the milestone (or landmark). But we often tend to notice batsmen who get to particular landmarks (especially a 100) and neglect the importance of other batsmen who made vital contributions (which were not hundreds).

However, there have been instances where there have been some defining and match-changing innings which were not centuries. Hence, here we look at 7 defining innings by Indian batsmen in Test cricket that were not centuries.


#5 Virender Sehwag – 83 vs England (Chennai, 2008)

The Chennai Test against England in December 2008 was a historic one and it is remembered for various reasons. The 7-match ODI series was cut-short as after completing 5 games, the England team went back home after the 26/11 attacks. However, they braved it out and came back to India to complete their tour (played 2 Test matches).

That Test match is also remembered for India’s chase of 387 in the fourth innings. Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 103 to guide India home but there was one knock that set-up the chase and that was the innings of Virender Sehwag.

India were behind for the most part of the game. After bowling England for 316 in the first innings, India failed with the bat and could score only 241. England then set India a target of 387 with about four sessions left in the game.

After scoring only nine in the first innings, Sehwag helped India get off to a flier. The way the Delhi opener took the attack to the English bowlers was brilliant. His counter-attack put the visitors under pressure.

Sehwag didn’t allow any bowler to settle and kept the foot on the peddle as he made 83 in just 68 balls. And by the time he got out India’s score was already 117 in 23 overs.

His 83 provided India the perfect platform as riding on Tendulkar’s 103 and Yuvraj Singh’s 85 helped India complete a record run-chase and go 1-0 up in the series.

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#4 Rahul Dravid – 81 and 68 vs West Indies (Jamaica, 2006)

Image result for Rahul Dravid – 81 and 68 vs West Indies (Jamaica, 2006)
Dravid clearly looked the best batsman in the Jamaica Test in 2006

After losing the 5-match ODI series 4-1, India played the first three Tests very well. They dominated two out of those three, but the series score remained 0-0 when the teams moved to Kingston, Jamaica for the fourth Test. On a tough pitch, skipper Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat first.

When Dravid walked into bat at No. 4, India were in big trouble as the score read 3/2 (in the 4th over). He then battled it out on what was a testing pitch to bat on. He batted for almost 6 hours, played 215 deliveries and scored a vital 81.

Against a quality bowling attack which was breathing fire, Dravid defended with supreme confidence. He ensured that the scoring opportunities were maximized. Hence, he was the top-scorer for India as they were bowled out for just 200. If not for Dravid’s 81, the visitors would’ve folded up for much lesser.

After India’s bowling attack skittled out the Windies for 103, the Indian skipper was once again at the crease in the 4th over with India 6/2. And like the first innings, wickets fell all around him and was the pillar of the Indian batting line-up. He batted for 166 balls and scored 68 as India made 171.

Eventually, India won the game by 49 runs and Dravid was the difference between the sides as his twin half-centuries helped India register their first Test series win in West Indies after 35 years.

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#3 Cheteshwar Pujara – 92 vs Australia (Bangalore, 2017)

Image result for Cheteshwar Pujara – 92 vs Australia (Bangalore, 2017)
Cheteshwar Pujara was brilliant in the series against Australia

India’s home season in 2017 was a long one. They hosted 13 Tests (against four different oppositions) and to end the long and glorious home stretch, India and Australia played a 4-match Test series (Border-Gavaskar Trophy).

After surprising everyone with their performance in the first Test (where they won the game by a whopping 333 runs) on a rank turner, they dominated the first half of the second Test (in Bangalore) as well.

India were bowled out for 190 and Australia then got to 276 in their first innings.

With a lead of 87 and a series-lead of 1-0, Australia were clearly ahead and the pressure was on India. Walking in to bat at 39/1, Cheteshwar Pujara started off well. He negated the threat of the Aussie pacers (Starc and Hazlewood) first and then blunted out the spinners.

After a nice partnership of 45 between Pujara and KL Rahul for the second wicket, India lost quick wickets and were reduced to 120/4 and given the collapses they suffered in the previous three innings, they were under serious pressure. However, Ajinkya Rahane complimented the solid-looking Pujara very well as the duo took India’s lead past the 150-mark.

However, it was Pujara who negated the spinners’ threat. He used his feet to get to the pitch and blunt it out or whip it through the mid-wicket region for runs. He fell on 92 and missed out on a well-deserved ton. But it was his innings that set up the victory of India as Australia failed to chase 188 in the fourth innings.

It was not only a match-changing innings, but also a series-defining knock. After India levelled the series 1-1 in Bangalore, they went on to win the series 2-1 in the fourth Test in Dharamsala.

#2 Virat Kohli – 54 and 41 (Johannesburg, 2018)

Image result for Virat Kohli – 54 and 41 (Johannesburg, 2018)
Kohli was the leading run-scorer of the series

India’s tour of South Africa (Test series) earlier this year was seen as India’s best chance to register their maiden series win in the Rainbow Nation. However, even after giving a tough fight, India lost the first two Tests and as a result, the series, once again.

When the third Test started, India were not only under pressure of being whitewashed for the first time in South Africa but the tag of ‘poor travellers’ was also there. Hence, when India won the toss and batted first on a green pitch, a lot of people were taken by surprise considering the movement the pacers were generating.

Like the first two Tests, India were once again in trouble as the openers failed and India were reduced to 13/2. However, skipper Virat Kohli, who scored a superb 153 in the previous Test, chose to lead from the front. He made 54 on a pitch that was doing a lot and even though he was dropped twice, the way he batted was simply superb. His 54 along with Pujara’s 50 ensured India didn’t collapse (India scored 187 in the first innings).

After managing to keep South Africa down to 194, India needed a decent score to defend in the fourth innings. Kohli once again walked in with India two-down for less than 15. This time Kohli came out fighting. On a pitch where balls were raring off a length, the Indian skipper decided to continue fighting even after the umpires had a lot of deliberations over the pitch. He might have scored only 41 in the second innings, but that innings would certainly be one of his best.

His 54 and 41 set up India’s famous win as they beat the Proteas by 63 runs. It was the only second win for India outside the subcontinent (barring West Indies) in 7 years.

#1 VVS Laxman – 96 (Durban, 2010)

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VVS Laxman has often come to India's rescue in difficult situations

After losing the first Test in Centurion, India were put into bat by South Africa. After the Indian openers provided a decent start, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals.

India’s crisis man, VVS Laxman walked out to bat when the score read 79/3. He looked in superb touch as he scored 38 and was going really well before he nailed a pull-shot straight to mid-on where Tsotsobe plucked out a brilliant catch. India were bowled out for 205 and Laxman’s 38 was the highest of the innings.

After a disappointing performance with the bat, India’s bowlers brought them back in the game as they bowled South Africa out for just 131. But the initiative was slipping away quickly when they were reduced to 48/3 (which soon became 93/5).

But India’s second-innings specialist was still at the crease. VVS Laxman had bailed his team out of trouble from such situations on various occasions before. But here the pressure was different, against a top-notch bowling attack. But he battled it out and scored a fighting 96 to take India to 228 and set the hosts a target of 303. The way he batted with the tail (for the umpteenth time) was fantastic.

India won the game by 87 runs and levelled the series. Laxman was awarded the Man of the Match for his superb batting.

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Edited by Sankalp Srivastava