A look back at the 7 greatest Indian Test innings of the 21st Century

The Test season is well and truly upon us. After the Indian team finishes its assignment in England, it will embark on an adventure Down Under towards the end of the year.

Tests, as the name suggests, is the toughest form of cricket that exists. While the rise in popularity of T20s has been unparalleled, nothing beats the competition the Test arena entails.

Historically, batting has always been India’s stronger suit. A number of greats have come up with sparkling innings when backed into a corner. However, the Test series in England hasn’t gone to plan with India floundering with the bat in every inning till now. India would hope that their batsmen can find the mettle of yesteryear and come up with a response.

While the Indian team isn’t covering itself in glory in England currently, there are a number of innings from which they can draw inspiration. Through the course of this article, we would re-live some of the greatest Test innings played by Indians in the 21st Century.

The innings considered are those that have been played in adverse conditions, displaying an extraordinary mixture of steel and skill.

Without further ado, let us take a look at who makes this elite list.

7. Virat Kohli 141 vs Australia at Adelaide, 2014

Kohli arrived at the Adelaide Oval as captain of the Indian team, with Dhoni having been ruled out for the 1st Test. He nearly won the game for India single-handedly with centuries in both innings. However, it was his innings in the second essay that captured everyone’s imagination.

Having been set a daunting target of 364, India did not get off to a good start and found themselves two down for 57. At that juncture, Kohli entered his favourite Australian hunting ground and mesmerised everyone with his batting.

Kohli scored 141 in the 4th innings and nearly chased down the improbable target of 364. The Adelaide pitch was as dry and dusty as it had ever been and Nathan Lyon was picking wickets for fun. Kohli mixed caution with aggression and played the ‘sweep’ to perfection to counter Lyon. The latter was taken aback by Kohli’s approach and was left scratching his head most of the time.

However, what set that innings apart was the audacity to go for the target when most would have been content to bat for a draw. Kohli displayed exemplary skill and heart to battle it out on a tough pitch.

Kohli’s innings would have been higher on our list but the fact that India lost gets it only the No.7 slot.

6. Sachin Tendulkar 103* vs England at Chennai, 2008

Sachin deploying the sweep to perfection

After the horrific attacks of 26/11, England toured India for a Test series. The first instalment was played out at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.

India conceded a 75 run lead in the first innings and were set a monumental target of 387 in the fourth innings. With a day and a bit to go, Sehwag turned on the style and blasted 83 off just 68 deliveries, setting the stage for the Master Blaster.

The Master Blaster came out to bat with 246 runs still needed. He steadied the ship with Gambhir and then set out to achieve the target. Sachin was exceptional on the day. On a raging turner at the Chepauk, he handled the threat of Panesar and Swann with dexterity. He swept a lot more than usual to throw the spinners off their length and it worked a treat.

He was there till the end and ensured India edged ahead in the series against England. Though this inning was not his highest, it is one of his greatest for the way he masterminded a seemingly insurmountable chase. India’s chase of 387 still remains the highest fourth innings chase in Asia.

On 15th December 2008, Sachin was at his crafty best and his innings slots into 6th position on our list.

5. MS Dhoni 224 vs Australia at Chennai, 2013

Australia v India: 3rd Test - Day 5

The first of four Tests between India and Australia was being played in Chennai. Australia grounded their way to a competitive 380 in the first innings, courtesy a Michael Clarke hundred. With the Indian team in a fix, at 196-4, out walked the Indian skipper, MS Dhoni.

He joined forces with Kohli and stitched a solid 128 run partnership. The Chepauk pitch represented a dust-bowl and Nathan Lyon was on top of his game and the opposition. Dhoni played the counter-attack to perfection and annihilated the Australian bowlers. He was at his belligerent best, carting bowlers all around the park on his way to 224. The Australians didn’t have an answer to the rustic jab, the unconventional slashes and the huge hits down the ground.

The most impressive aspect of his innings was the way the skipper took the attack to Australia. He set the tone for the rest of the series, which India won 4-0. Though Dhoni was not as successful in tests as he was in ODIs, those who witnessed that innings would rank it as one of the best ever played.

The Indian skipper for his exploits in Chennai gets the No.5 slot on our list.

4. VVS Laxman 96 vs South Africa at Durban, 2010

South Africa v India - Second Test: Day 3

India toured the rainbow nation towards the end of 2010 and immediately found themselves on the back foot, having lost the first Test. The second Test in Durban witnessed a ‘Very Very Special’ (VVS) innings and it helped India level the 3-match series.

India scrapped its way to 205 in the 1st innings and got hold of a handy 74 run lead when Harbhajan Singh ripped through South Africa, toppling them for 131.

India was in a spot of bother in its second innings when it was reduced to 48-3 and later to 56-4. India were in danger of undoing all the good work of the first innings till the elegant, right-hander from Hyderabad entered the picture.

VVS Laxman scored a sublime 96 on a Durban wicket that was spitting fire. He batted with the tail and ensured India’s lead crossed the 300-run barrier. His innings was laced with 12 hits to the fence. However, the character displayed by him in such extreme circumstances made the whole world sit up and take notice.

Laxman has long been dubbed ‘the master of the 2nd innings’ and it again came to the fore in Durban. Without a ‘Very Very Special’ (VVS) innings, India would not have been able to achieve a historic win in Kingsmead. Hence, it makes our list at No.4.

3. Virender Sehwag 309 vs Pakistan at Multan, 2004

Sehwag became the 1st Indian to score a triple-century in Tests when he blazed his way to a 375-ball 309 in Multan. With this innings, he helped India script their first ever Test win in their arch-rivals’ backyard.

Sehwag was severe on the Pakistan bowling attack, with Saqlain Mushtaq and Shoaib Akhtar being singled out for special treatment. He handled the fiery Akhtar with ease, driving and cutting him through the off-side. Against Saqlain, he got down the pitch to counter his spin threat.

The Nawab of Nadjafgarh has enthralled one and all with his ultra-attacking brand of batting. In addition to the mauling in Multan, Sehwag has two more 290-plus scores. However, there was something special about this innings.

In 2004, the India-Pakistan rivalry was at its height. Sehwag made a statement with his innings and taught the whole world that test cricket could be played the way he did. He also enabled the Indian team to dream of overseas victories again.

The courage to play an innings of such belligerence on Pakistan’s home patch gets it into the top 3 of our list.

2. Rahul Dravid 233 vs Australia at Adelaide, 2003

2nd Test Australia v India Day Three

Rahul Dravid or ‘The Wall’ was the man for crisis in Indian cricket. Whenever the going got tough, Dravid would also get going. When Australia piled up 556 in the first innings at Adelaide, The Wall came up with a fitting response.

Dravid played a near-perfect innings at Adelaide, displaying bags of patience and superlative technical nous. At one stage, India were tottering at 85-4. Dravid and Laxman came together and ensured that India did not follow-on. The former batted till the end and was the final wicket to fall.

The Wall got India to 523 and laid the foundation for a famous victory on Australian soil. Australia crumbled in the second innings and Dravid finished off the match with an impressive 72* in the fourth innings.

With all the odds stacked against him, Dravid passed with flying colours. Like many a time before, he had stood strong in the face of adversity.

The innings at Adelaide was one of the greatest displays of grit and determination and it helped India gain an improbable lead in the test series. For all these reasons, it is the runner-up on our list.

1. VVS Laxman 281 vs Australia at Kolkata, 2001

VVS Laxman

The only batsmen to appear twice on our list. Laxman’s exploits against Australia are unparalleled and his 281 in 2001 set the ball rolling.

Australia made 445 in their first innings and bundled India out for 171, thus enforcing the follow-on. In India’s second innings, Laxman came out to bat with the score reading 52-1. After 631 minutes on the field, the only thing the whole cricketing fraternity could do was stand and applaud.

Laxman wielded his bat like a magic wand and conjured magic on his way to a heroic 281. He was ably supported by Dravid but the test match was all about Laxman. He played Warne adroitly, driving him through the covers with remarkable efficiency. Against the fast bowlers, he was scintillating. He waited for the bowlers to bowl into his areas and then picked them off. He cut, he pulled, he drove and he wrote his name into the history books.

A team winning after being asked to follow-on is not a very common sight. Thus, the innings by Laxman ranks a notch above any other. In the process, India also brought Australia’s famed winning streak to a grinding halt.

Laxman’s 281 would not be out of place in a list of the greatest test innings ever played. Hence, it is no surprise that his masterclass at Eden Gardens is the greatest Indian Test innings of the 21st century.