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

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.