The greatest Test innings by Indian batsmen post-2000 that wasn't a century

Often in India, a century is more remembered and celebrated regardless of its context than a more valuable innings having greater impact that may be less than a century.

At times, the 70's and the 80's in a collectively low scoring game are much more praiseworthy than centuries on pitches where most batsmen from both teams score big. Also, these knocks might have been played at a crucial juncture of the match in more difficult situations where the team is in dire straits, the pitch is at its toughest or in a higher pressure situation.

Here we look at five such innings by Indian batsmen in the post 2000 era that were most valuables without being three figures.

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1. Virender Sehwag 83 of 68 vs England, Chennai 2008

Sehwag at his swashbuckling best setting up India's memorable run chase

This was the in the first of the two match Test series between India and England where India were set a target of 387 in a day and a session by England. Having declared their 3rd innings due to the dominant position of strength they found themselves at, where they couldn't lose the match (Or at least by the looks of it then).

However, going against the norm of playing out the draw that most mortals would look to do, the flamboyant and ever-aggressive Virender Sehwag set about chasing down the improbable target.

On a deteriorating pitch against a high quality English attack with two outstanding spinners, he counter attacked on the final session of Day 4 hammering 83 of 68 and getting India to 100-0 in no time, making an improbable looking win very achievable.

From then on, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, and Yuvraj Singh all made significant contributions helping India register a famous win and the 3rd highest run chase then. But, it was the inspirational approach taken by Virender Sehwag that set the tone and instilled belief in others to think of achieving the impossible.

2. VVS Laxman 96 vs South Africa, Durban, 2010

VVS Laxman's brilliant 96 to India's rescue yet again

After losing the 1st test to South Africa at Centurion by a huge margin, a demoralized Team India had to win this Test match to level the three match series. On a green top at Durban, India were bowled out for a paltry 205 in the first innings with VVS Laxman making a valuable 38.

The Indian bowlers responded well, bowling the Proteas out for 130 earning India a valuable lead of 75. However in their second essay, India were reduced to 56-4 by an inspired South African attack.

With the lead at a precarious 130 and the home team smelling blood, ready to go for the knock out punch, VVS Laxman, yet again, played a sensational match winning innings.

His innings of 96 on a tough pitch against a South African attack boasting of the best bowling pair at that time in Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel at the most critical juncture got India to 228. This helped to push the lead over 300 resulting in another one of India's greatest overseas victories propelled by the Very, Very Special Laxman.

3. Sourav Ganguly 87 vs South Africa, 2008, Nagpur

Yet another visual delight from Sourav Ganguly on a turner

Entering the final test of the three test series against South Africa, India found themselves down 1-0 at home needing to win the final test to avoid series defeat.

Post the second Test at Ahmadabad, much talk was on the pitch debacle where a green top was handed out favoring South Africa. Hence, the curator had prepared a square turner at Kanpur to provide conditions favoring the home team.

However, South Africa won a crucial toss and made a very respectable 265 on a pitch that was already crumbling having plenty of turn and uneven bounce. India, in response, found themselves precariously placed at 123-4 on an increasingly difficult pitch.

In danger of conceding the all important first innings lead and facing the daunting prospect of a home series defeat, Sourav Ganguly played a delightful knock of 87 with decisive footwork against the spinners to ensure India made 325 gaining a match winning lead of 60.

As expected, that proved to be sufficient for the Indian spinners to bowl out a demoralized South Africa for a paltry second innings total to ensure victory in the match and level the series.

4. VVS Laxman 73* vs Australia, Mohali, 2010

4th Innings specialist and Aussie nightmare VVS Laxman at it again

The first of the two match Test series in the Border Gavaskar trophy saw both teams pile on 400 plus scores with Australia gaining a slender lead of 23. By the end of day 4, the pitch had deteriorated and Australia set India a tough target of 216 on a crumbling Mohali pitch.

Sensing a rare victory in India, the Aussies reduced Team India to 124-8 and thereby all but finishing hopes of an Indian victory. What followed then was a script that the mighty Aussies must have been all too familiar with.

Crisis specialist, VVS Laxman yet again tamed the Kangaroos by shepherding the tail and scoring with ridiculous ease in the most impossible of situations earning India a win by 1 wicket.

Laxman went on to score an unbeaten 73 while playing with the final two batsmen Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha. In the process, he not only ensured India won the 1st Test but also by the looks of it demolished Australia's will, resulting in India riding the momentum to win the second test and the series 2-0.

Once again, VVS Laxman stood between the Australians and a series victory.

5. Sanjay Bangar 68 vs England, Leeds, 2002

Bangar's 68 - One of the grittiest yet most forgotten knocks

On the back of a mammoth defeat in the second game of the four match Test series, India, trailing 0-1, entered the third Test in chilly and overcast conditions in Leeds with a must-win situation in front of them.

With the overhead conditions and the pitch favoring putting the opposition in, Sourav Ganguly decided otherwise as it was believed for India to be successful, the batsmen had to put up a big score so that his two match winnings spinners could be most effective in the 4th innings.

Pitted against the most difficult of conditions, where seeing out the first session was paramount for the famed middle order to flourish and put up a huge score to dictate terms the rest of the match, Sanjay Bangar's role became most crucial.

Showing impeccable technique, off stump awareness and temperament to see of the new ball when there was plenty of swing and seam movement against an attack consisting of Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Caddick, and and Andrew Flintoff, Bangar took it upon himself scoring 68 off 236 balls, setting it up for the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly to score big centuries helping India compile a score of over 600.

Once that was done, the Indian spinners came into their own and completed the job as India defeated England by Innings and 46 runs to level the series at 1-1.

It is believed that this was the win that kick-started India's golden era of great overseas performances from 2002 to 2006 in England, Pakistan, Australia, and West Indies and much credit must be given to one of the least celebrated, yet most important innings in Indian cricket by Sanjay Bangar.