Top 10 overseas ODI knocks by Indian captains in the history of the game

In cricket, we’ve seen that it is the batsman, who is mostly the captain of a team in any format. And we hear a lot of them talking about setting an example (or leading from the front) with the bat.

Indian cricket is blessed that it has seen many captains who were batsmen and led from the front. Right from Ajit Wadekar (India’s first ODI captain), the captains chosen for the ODI team have been batsmen more often than not.

Hence, we look at top 10 ODI knocks by Indian captains away from home.

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#10 Virat Kohli – 131 vs Sri Lanka (Colombo - 2017)

Virat Kohli was handed full-time ODI captaincy early in 2017 and he started off the year (and his captaincy tenure) with a majestic 122 against England chasing 350. He continued his form through the Champions Trophy and the West Indies tour and scored heavily. He also started the ODI series in Sri Lanka with a fluent unbeaten 82.

However, a couple of single-digit scores followed (which was quite rare in limited-overs cricket for Kohli). Having already won the series, India opted to bat first in the fourth ODI and lost Shikhar Dhawan very early (in the second over). However, it hardly seemed that India had lost an early wicket as skipper Kohli hit his straps early and dominated the Sri Lankan bowling attack right from the start.

Along with Rohit Sharma (102), he set up a brilliant platform for the middle-order. In 96 deliveries, Kohli scored 131 with the help of 17 fours and 2 sixes. The way he played Akila Dananjaya (who wreaked havoc in the previous two games) was brilliant.

This was his 29th ODI ton and it helped India cruise to a big win (by 168 runs).

#9 MS Dhoni – 44* vs Australia (Adelaide - 2012)\

We often associate Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a cool and calm customer and on 12th February 2012, he showed the world why. After having been whitewashed in the Test series (4-0), India lost one and won one game in the first two matches of the CB Tri-series.

India’s third game of the tri-series was at the Adelaide Oval against hosts Australia (whom they had lost the first game of the series too). The Indian bowling attack did well to restrict the Aussies to 269. In reply, India were off to a good start but they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. India were 178/4 when skipper MS Dhoni walked into bat and with not a lot of batting to come, he chose to play the waiting game.

He looked to rotate the strike as much as possible. He played second fiddle to Suresh Raina (38) who was batting well and kept giving him the strike. However, Raina’s dismissal meant the pressure started to mount on Dhoni with 31 required off 23 balls. It eventually came down to 13 of the final over.

Ashwin who was on strike missed the first ball and then took a single off the second ball and that brought the equation to 12 runs off 4 balls. At that stage, it seemed that the Indian skipper had left it a little too late, but Dhoni hit a monstrous six over long-on (clearing one of the longest boundaries in Australia with ease) and then completed the run-chase with a two (off a no-ball) and a three.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again proved why he is the best finisher in world cricket.

#8 Sachin Tendulkar – 104 vs Zimbabwe (Benoni - 1997)

Sachin Tendulkar was not off to a great start in 1997 as far as ODI cricket is concerned. He had only two 50+ scores in his first 13 innings of the year. Moreover, India had failed to win a single game in a tri-series (involving India, South Africa and Zimbabwe) in 5 games. It was a must-win game for them against Zimbabwe in the 9th game of the tournament.

Zimbabwe who had beaten India in their previous encounter posted 240 after being put into bat by India. Indian batting hadn’t lived up to expectation in that series and the top-order failed once again as India were reduced to 34/2.

However, Sachin Tendulkar hit a brilliant 104 (his 11th ODI ton) to set up the run chase and take India into the finals of the tri-series. After India lost those early wickets at the start, Tendulkar counter-attacked and put the pressure back on Zimbabwe. He hit 8 fours and 1 six in his 97-ball innings.

#7 Rahul Dravid – 92*vs England (Bristol – 2007)

The 2007 England tour was an excellent one for India. They managed to win the Test series (1-0) after 21 years. However, the ODI series was off to a bad start for India as they were thrashed by 104 runs.

India opted to bat first in the second ODI and were off to a brilliant start. They had a 113-run opening stand after which they were placed very well at 180/2 (in the 32nd over) when Tendulkar got out for 99. Rahul Dravid walked into bat at No. 4. On what was a very good pitch to bat, India needed a big total.

Dravid who was renowned for his classical batting produced a thrilling innings. He started off his innings by turning the strike over and hitting the odd boundary. But in the death overs, he unfurled a range of shots and put up an excellent batting show. He hit 11 fours and 1 six in his 63-ball innings and by the time the Indian innings ended he finished with an unbeaten 92. Even as wickets fell around him in the final overs, he kept scoring from his end and it helped India reach 329.

India eventually won the game by 9 runs and Dravid for his enthralling innings was awarded the Man of the Match.

#6 Mohammed Azharuddin – 101 vs Pakistan (Toronto - 1998)

In 1998, India played Pakistan in Canada and the series was called as Sahara Friendship Cup. After winning the first game, India lost the next three and were 3-1 down as the series moved to the fifth and final ODI.

After opting to bat first, India found themselves in trouble at 35/2 in the 12th over. Sachin Tendulkar was batting well, but he needed some support from the other end. Skipper Mohammed Azharuddin walked out to bat at No. 4 and steadied the ship along with Tendulkar and stitched a 121-run stand for the third wicket.

After Tendulkar’s dismissal for 77, Azharuddin became the aggressor and scored his 7th ODI ton. His 111-ball 101 helped India reach 256 at the end of 50 overs. However, Azharuddin’s ton went in vain as Pakistan romped home and chased 257 with 5 wickets in hand.

#5 MS Dhoni – 95 vs West Indies (Kingston - 2009)

When India went to West Indies in 2009, they had won four consecutive ODI bilateral series’ and they continued their good run with a win in the first ODI. In the second game, India won the toss and elected to bat first and found themselves in trouble very early.

The ‘Men in Blue’ were reduced to 7/3 in the second over when skipper MS Dhoni walked out to the middle. He started off very cautiously as the ball was swinging around. Along with Yuvraj Singh (35), he looked to steady the ship. However, wickets kept falling after a 47-run stand between the duo. India were reduced to 82/8 (in the 22nd over) and it looked like they were going to get bowled out for less than 100.

But MS Dhoni played excellently with the tail to stretch the Indian innings and take them to 188. Dhoni made 95 and was the last batsman out. His innings stood out as the other Indian batsmen failed to adjust to the bowler-friendly conditions. He first saw off the threat of the pacers (Taylor and Rampaul) who were bowling brilliantly, and then attacked in the final overs to take India to a respectable total.

Though India lost the game, Dhoni’s innings of 95 was one of his best overseas.

#4 Rahul Dravid – 105 vs West Indies (Kingston - 2006)

In 2006, India had started the year very well. Before they went to West Indies in May that year, they had lost only 3 games out of the 14 ODIs they played. And with the World Cup to be held in the Caribbean in less than a year’s time (then), this series was very important.

In the first ODI, India won the toss and opted to field first. In a reduced game (45 overs), the Windies on the back of Chris Gayle’s 123 scored 251. India were off to a good start in their chase with a 56-run opening stand. However, they quickly slipped to 86/3. Skipper Rahul Dravid was batting very well and found support in Mohammed Kaif as the latter shared a 123-run partnership for the 4th wicket with his skipper.

However, it was Dravid who did the bulk of the scoring in that partnership as he scored a magnificent 105 (of 102 balls) to set up the run-chase. He controlled the innings beautifully and never let the pressure affect him. His 105 completely overshadowed Gayle’s 123 as he took India to a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.

#3 Virat Kohli – 102 vs West Indies (Port of Spain - 2013)

After a winning the Champions Trophy in England, India were off to a poor start in the Tri-Nation series in West Indies (involving West Indies, Sri Lanka and India). They lost their first two games which meant they needed to win the next two games to qualify for the finals.

West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first. India were off to a solid start as Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan put up a 123-run opening partnership. That’s when (stand-in) skipper Virat Kohli walked in. After the opening stand, India found it hard to get partnerships going and wickets kept falling around Kohli. However, the stand-in skipper scored a magnificent ton (102 in 83 balls) to help India reach 311/7. India scored 101 runs in the last ten overs and most of it was scored by Kohli.

At 221/6, the going looked tough but it was Kohli who dragged India out of trouble and then into a position of strength. Kohli’s 102 set-up a bonus-point victory for India as they got a much-needed win in the Tri-Nation series.

#2 Sourav Ganguly – 141* vs South Africa (Nairobi - 2000)

Sourav Ganguly took over India’s captaincy just after it went through a turmoil (the spot-fixing saga). In the second edition of the ICC Knockout Trophy, India reached the semi-final for the second consecutive time. They were playing South Africa in the semi-final.

After winning the toss, India opted to bat first. Skipper Sourav Ganguly led from the front with a majestic unbeaten 141. He countered the threat of a potent bowling attack (Pollock, Donald, Boje and Klusener) excellently. He drove excellently both of the back-foot and front-foot. He was supreme through the off-side and was superb against the left-arm spinner Boje.

His 141 helped India get to 295. The Indian bowlers bowled well and ensured that the skipper’s ton didn’t go in vain as India qualified for the final of the tournament.

#1 Kapil Dev – 175* vs Zimbabwe (Tunbridge Wells - 1983)

In the 1983 World Cup, India were off to a shaky start. They won the first couple of games but lost the next two. Their fifth game was against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells.

Indian captain won the toss and batted first. However, he wouldn’t have expected what unfolded. India were reduced to 17/5 in absolutely no time. AT that stage, Kapil Dev walked into bat and turned the tables as he stroked a fabulous unbeaten knock of 175 to help India reach 266 at the end of 50 overs.

Kapil Dev took full advantage of the short boundaries as he hit 16 fours and 6 sixes in his 138-ball innings. He turned the game on its head with an attacking innings and put the pressure back on Zimbabwe. He was constantly on the attack as India kept losing wickets from one end. India won that game by 31 runs and their campaign was revived.

Thus, his innings of 175 is certainly one of the best innings played by an Indian captain on foreign soil.