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The ongoing series between India and England has opened the pandora's box of questions about the visiting team's serious batting woes against swing and seam. So, it was not surprising when Indian batting was collapsing around their batting lynchpin, Virat Kohli.
Though Virat's technique this time around is still slightly unorthodox, yet that has not stopped him from exorcising the demons of his last tour. It is his application to stick around and weather the initial stormy phase which goes on to show his determination towards playing for long hours.
It was this kind of patience and the stubbornness that made some of the Indian players taste a considerable amount of success in England. So here is an XI that will certainly defeat any England team in England.
1) Sunil Gavaskar
There will never be an all-time Test XI without the mention of the original little master, Sunil Gavaskar. It was his run-scoring exploits that almost took India home in that fabled 4th Test match at The Oval in 1979.
He scored a majestic 221 runs in a tricky 4th innings chase but was unsuccessful in closing the game off for his country. Unfortunately for the Indian cricket team, they had to settle for a draw, but this innings showed the Indian's will to fight and not crumble under pressure.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:16 TESTS/ 28 INNINGS /1152 RUNS/ AVG:41.81/ 2 100's
2) Dilip Vengsarkar
He was another great to have come out of the batting lineage of the famous Bombay batsmanship. They were known to be the stubborn batsmen for not leaving the crease. The trait was very much a part of his batting, especially against the English team.
He toured the English shores 4 times and tasted success in each of them with India winning one of those tours. India won the 3 Test match series in 1986 on the back of some scintillating centuries from him that took India home and ended a 15-year wait.
Lord's was his favourite hunting ground with 3 centuries to his name. Though he usually batted at No. 3, his technique and temperament make him an ideal opener as well.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:13 TESTS/ 23 INNINGS /960 RUNS/ AVG:48.00/ 4 100's/ 42 CATCHES
3) Rahul Dravid
Rahul Dravid was the mainstay of Indian top order for more than a decade and a half. It was his performance in England that really stood out for him during all of India's successful and turbulent tours to England.
He had the near-perfect technique to be playing in England to go along with his powers of concentration. His grit and determination did fetch him a place on the Lord's honours board after a 15 year-long wait.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:13 TESTS/ 23 INNINGS /1376 RUNS/ AVG:68.8/ 6 100's/ 19 CATCHES
4) Sachin Tendulkar
As is the case with Sunil Gavaskar, there will never be an all time XI not featuring Sachin Tendulkar. He scored runs and centuries all around the world. He was excellent against England too.
He scored his first International century against England and went on to score 7 more centuries and 3990 runs to be exact against them across all formats. He was instrumental in India drawing and then winning the series in 2002 and 2007 tours to England respectively.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:17 TESTS/ 30 INNINGS /1575 RUNS/ AVG:54.31/ 4 100's/ 12 CATCHES
5) Mohammad Azharuddin
Mohd. Azharuddin was the original wristy player to have come out of the Hyderabad's batting heritage. He stamped his authority against the visiting English team in the 1984-85 tour of England to India.
He scored 3 back to back centuries with first coming on his Test debut. He showed his true prowess to the England side in India's tour of England in 1990. He scored two centuries in 3 Test matches with one coming at the iconic Lord's ground.
A knock of 121 runs which came at a strike rate over 100 strike at Lord's could not help India save the Test match, but made him a force to be reckoned with in the English circles.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:9 TESTS/ 16 INNINGS /625 RUNS/ AVG:41.67/ 2 100's/ 5 CATCHES
6) Sourav Ganguly
A very capable southpaw, he dominated the English team with his antics both on and off the field. He made his Test debut at Lord's ground in 1996 and scored 131 runs in the process, thus registering his name on the Lord's honours board.
Popularly known as Dada, he was famous for his batting that went along with his shrewd captaincy which turned out to be instrumental in India finishing the 4 Test match series 1-1 in 2002.
He would be a reliable No. 6 who could drop his anchor and up the ante at the same time. He was more than handy bowling option at the same time.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:9 TESTS/ 15 INNINGS /915 RUNS/ AVG:65.36/ 3 100's/ 2 CATCHES/ 8 WICKETS
7) Kapil Dev
It was after the arrival of Kapil Dev that Indian cricket's fortune started to change for good. He has many lasting memories in England. India lifted the 1983 World Cup trophy and then went on to defeat England in the 1986 Test series in England under his captaincy.
In fact, his record is pretty solid for an all-rounder. He was not only able to generate pace with his bowling, but also do wonders with his batting, the most memorable one being his 4 consecutive sixes to prevent India from following-on in the first Test at Lord's in 1990.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:13 TESTS/ 20 INNINGS /638 RUNS/ AVG:35.44/ 1 100/ 43 WICKETS
8) Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble has arguably been India's greatest match-winner in the home as well as overseas conditions. A total of 619 Test wickets is a testament to his immense talent and dedication towards the game.
He was not a big turner of the ball but was able to bag wickets in clusters when on a roll. He even has lone test century(110) that came against the Englishmen at the Oval in 2007 series.
With the ball, his best came at Headingley when he took 3/93 and 4/66 to earn a well-deserved victory for India.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:10 TESTS/ 20 INNIGS/ 36 WICKETS/ 222 RUNS/ 1 100
9) Bhagwat Chandrasekhar
He was the one among the quartet of spinners that India produced in the 60's and 70's. He cast a web around the English batting lineup at Kennington Oval in the 1971 series to help India win the match and the series.
He took 2/76 and followed it up with 6/38 that set up India's series victory. He was also suffering from polio during his playing days which makes his wickets column and achievements even more special.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:9 TESTS/ 18 INNINGS/ 31 WICKETS/ 2 FIVE-FORS/ AVG:33.97
10) Zaheer Khan
aheer Khan was the main strike bowler for India in the fabled 2007 tour. His 9 wicket haul at Trent Bridge in 2007 was the highlight of that tour for him. He snared 4/59 in the first innings and returned with a second innings haul of 5/75 to win that Test match for India.
Owing to the unfortunate loss of Zaheer Khan in the 2011 series due to injury, India's bowling looked out of sorts. The visitors were outplayed in that series as the hosts handed a 4-0 whitewash. The story could have been different had Zaheer been not injured.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:8 TESTS/ 16 INNINGS/ 31 WICKETS/ 1 FIVE-FOR/ AVG:27.97
11) Bhuvneshwar Kumar
It was Bhuvi's spell at Lord's in the first essay that tilted the game in India's favour. He bowled 19 overs on the trot and took 6/82 in what became a match-defining spell. His spell was bettered by an equally impressive outing by Ishant Sharma in the second essay.
Along with the ball, he contributed with the bat too in the 2014 series. He hit three successive half centuries which included a memorable knock of 52 runs in the victorious Lord's Test.
He will be dearly missed in India's last two Test matches in the ongoing test series.
RECORD IN ENGLAND:5 TEST/ 10 INNIGS/ 247 RUNS/ BAT AVG:27.44/ 19 WICKETS/ 2 FIVE-FOR/ AVG:26.63
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