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India is touring England. Having lost the first two Test matches, they have bounced back with fine batting and bowling performances. With a win in their kitty, Indians are exuberant and thinking of a series win. Whatever the outcome, but the truth of the matter is that Indian Cricket team has always found it difficult to play in English conditions.
The bowl swings on either side with a good bounce. The changes in weather are frequent and sudden. The bowlers find it hard to control the ball and batsmen find it difficult to adjust to seam and swing. All these factors make it harder for Indian players to adapt to English conditions.
Keeping this in mind, I have analyzed the performances of Indian players in the last five decades and compiled a list of 11 players, who excelled in English conditions. They contributed to India’s win against England significantly, when they played. The playing squad has six batsmen, three pace bowlers, one spinner, and one wicket-keeper.
OPENERS
Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil is the greatest opener, the world has seen. His technique, temperament, and concentration set him apart from any other batsman. He played pace and spin bowling with equal ease. Sunny displayed his genius when he scored 221 in the fourth innings while chasing a target of 438 at The Oval, in 1979.
Sir Len Hutton endorsed the greatness of this inning by putting it in Top 3 best innings of all time. Gavaskar scored 2 centuries and 8 half-centuries against England in English conditions. He also amassed 1152 runs at an average of 41.14, which is decent by any standard.
Virender Sehwag
Sehwag was a destructive batsman who would hit boundaries at will. Veeru played test innings with a strike rate of 80+ which was phenomenal. He scored two triple centuries which is a testament to his cricketing ability.
The innings which he played at Trent Bridge in 2002 stands out as one of his finest batting performances. He scored 106 in 183 balls in which he plundered the bowlers all around the park. Sehwag scored at an average of 29.71 in English conditions.
MIDDLE ORDER
Rahul Dravid
Dravid had the ability to withstand any bowling attack. He scored heavily against Anderson, Broad, and other bowlers. He could change his batting style based on match condition. Rahul scored at an average of 68.8 and amassed 1376 runs in English conditions which included 6 hundred and 4 fifties.
One of his best innings against England is in Leeds, 2002, where he scored148 off 307 balls. The ball was seaming and swinging, but Rahul batted with absolute grit and determination.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar broke every record in the test cricket. He destroyed genuine pace and swing bowlers with his stroke play. He loved playing in English conditions and scored enormous runs giving joy to the fans and the audience.
One of his most memorable innings was when he scored 119* in 189 balls at Old Trafford to pull India out from the jaws of defeat. He scored 1575 runs at an average of 54.31 against England in England, which included 4 centuries and 8 half centuries. They called him God of Cricket.
Virat Kohli
Virat is a legend of the game. He has played outstanding cricket in the last 5-6 years. His ability to score runs and centuries is unbelievable. In the last tour of England, he could not do well, but he practised and learned. In the current tour of England, he has scored 200 runs seventh time, in a winning cause.
The current tour has seen him in good form and has been instrumental in the third test match win. In English conditions, he has scored 574 runs with an average of 35.87. He will be the Captain of this team.
Mohammad Azharuddin
Azharuddin was the most stylish and elegant player to have played the game. He scored 3 centuries in a row against England on his debut. Azhar could play the ball on either side of the wicket using his wrists and scored at will. He scored 625 runs, with 2 centuries and 2 half centuries in English conditions. An outstanding fielder, he is a perfect choice for number 6.
Wicket-keeper
Dhoni is a cult figure in the history of Indian cricket. He did not have a sound technique, but he compensated for it with grit, determination, and perseverance. Dhoni scored 778 runs at an average of 37.04, with 8 half centuries in England.
As a wicket-keeper, M.S. took 36 catches. His knowledge of the game and sense of match conditions makes him an essential member of this squad.
All-rounder
Kapil Dev was the first pace bowler produced by India. He made his debut in 1978 and remained the strike bowler for Team India, till he retired. He was a genuine all-rounder. He took 4/52 in a test match at Lord’s and sent the openers early on to the pavilion.
India won the match by chasing a modest total of 134 in fourth innings. His runs tally stands at an average of 35.44, which includes 1 century and 4 half centuries. He picked 43 wickets at an average of 39.18 in England.
Spinners
Anil Kumble
Anil is the leading wicket-taker for India. He played cricket for almost 21 years. A veteran of the game, he was a fighter. Kumble bowled long spells of flippers, off-breaks, and doosra at will. I remember vividly one of his bowling performances at Leeds, where he took 3/93 and 4/66 to take India to a spectacular win over England.
He exploited the weakness of English batsmen against spin and gave them no chance to play their strokes. His wickets tally stood at 36 with an average of 41.41 in England.
FAST BOWLERS
Zaheer Khan
Zaheer was a genuine left-arm pace bowler. He bowled out batsmen with toe-crushing yorkers. They consider the bowling spell of 4/59 and 5/75 against England in 2007 at Trent Bridge as one of the top bowling spells by an Indian bowler in England. India won the test match and also the series with his magnificent bowling display. Khan took 31 wickets at an average of 27.96 in English condition.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar is an outstanding swing and seam bowler. He has taken 19 wickets in 5 matches playing in English conditions. One of his finest performances came when India defeated England at Lord’s in 2014. He ran through England’s top order and produced a spell of 6/38. Bhuvneshwar is consistent with his batting, which is an added advantage.
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