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

We often hear the term ‘captain’s knock’ in cricket and the captain leading from the front. The captain (if he is a batsman) more often than not looks to set an example with the bat every time he is in the middle.

And India have been very fortunate to have a few very good captains who always led from the front with the bat.

Also, to do it away from home is always special.

Thus, we look at top 10 Test knocks by Indian captains away from home.

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#10 MS Dhoni – 90 vs South Africa (Centurion - 2010)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most successful captains to have played for India. He may have scored only 6 Test hundreds and none away from home as captain, but he was always chipped in with important contributions and batted very well with the lower-order.

When India went to South Africa in 2010/11, they were the No. 1 Test team and the South Africa tour was going to be a stern test for them. India were blown away in the first innings of the first Test and were bowled out for 136. South Africa then piled up a mammoth total of 620.

In the second innings, India did show some fight but were staring down the barrel when skipper MS Dhoni (who scored 33 in the first innings) walked out to join Sachin Tendulkar. India were still trailing by almost 200 runs. However, Dhoni played an excellent counter-attacking knock that caught South Africa off-guard. He scored 90 in just 106 balls in testing conditions and forged a brilliant 172-run stand with Tendulkar.

However, this 90 isn’t remembered by a lot of people as it was overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th Test ton. Though India lost the game, the way Dhoni batted against the likes of Steyn, Morkel, Tsotsobe and Kallis was brilliant. And it was one of his best knocks away from home.

#9 Sunil Gavaskar – 116 vs New Zealand (Auckland - 1976)

In 1971, India had found a batting maestro in Sunil Gavaskar (1971 was the year Gavaskar made his debut as well). And also, India were doing pretty well in the 1970s – winning a quite a bit away from home.

In 1976 when India toured New Zealand, Sunil Gavaskar led the team in the first Test. It was his debut as skipper. New Zealand won the toss in that Test and elected to bat first. They could only manage 266 in the first innings.

In reply, Sunil Gavaskar put up a wonderful performance on captaincy debut to put India in the driver’s seat. After the early loss of Dilip Vengsarkar, Gavaskar took complete control of the innings along with Surinder Amarnath (who scored 124). In his 6-hour stay at the crease, he stroked his way to a classy 116.

His 116 was instrumental in India posting 414 and taking a crucial first-innings lead and eventually winning the game.

#8 Rahul Dravid – 103 vs Pakistan (Faisalabad - 2006)

Rahul Dravid is undoubtedly one of the best Test cricketers India has ever produced. However, his prowess as captain was understated. And he took his batting a notch higher when he was captain (averaging more than 60 as captain). Also, he was one of India’s most reliable batsmen overseas and he proved that time and again.

In India’s tour to Pakistan in early 2006, he was the start with the bat. After his unbeaten 128 in the first Test, he was at it once again in the second Test in Faisalabad. After Pakistan had racked up 588 in the first innings, the pressure was on India to put up a fighting total. Dravid opening the batting set the tone with a brilliant 103. It was a typical Dravid innings where he defended well, waited for the bad balls and then didn’t miss out on scoring opportunities.

His 23rd Test ton set the tone and India on the back of MS Dhoni’s brutal 148 posted 603 and the game ended in a draw.

#7 Kapil Dev – 100* vs West Indies (Port of Spain - 1983)

The year 1983 is remembered for India winning its first ever World Cup. However, a lot happened before the mega-event took place in June that year. Sunil Gavaskar was sacked as captain and Kapil Dev was entrusted.

However, in just his second Test as captain (50th Test overall), Kapil Dev produced a match-saving ton. After losing the first Test, India were put into bat by West Indies and were bowled out for just 175. India’s newly appointed captain just scored 13. The hosts then posted 394 and the pressure was entirely on India as they were trailing by 119.

Riding on Mohinder Amarnath’s 117, India reached 325/5. India’s lead was 106 at that stage and Kapil Dev walked into bat. A collapse there would’ve meant an easy target for the hosts. However, India’s premier allrounder counter-attacked and took India to safe waters and helped them eke out a draw. Kapil Dev scored a scintillating 95-ball 100 which included 13 fours and 3 sixes as he defied the Windies bowlers and saved the game for India.

#6 Mohammed Azharuddin – 192 vs New Zealand (Auckland - 1990)

The career of Mohammed Azharuddin was probably one of the most controversial ones in the history of Indian cricket. But every time he batted, he would draw a lot of attention. And that was mainly due to his elegance, style and aggressive nature.

In 1990, he was appointed as India’s Test as he replaced Kris Srikkanth for the New Zealand tour. After losing the first Test of the series, the pressure (like always) was on him (as a captain and as a batsman). In the second Test, New Zealand posted 391 after batting first. The Indian top order had once again failed as they were reduced to 71/3.

Skipper Mohammed Azharuddin’s arrival at No. 5 changed the innings on its head. The Hyderabadi right-hander completely changed the tempo of the innings as he stroked a wonderful 192. He set up the innings beautifully as he took India to 482 and it helped them draw the game.

His knock of 192 was the third best by an Indian captain at that time.

#5 Virat Kohli – 153 vs South Africa (Centurion - 2018)

Virat Kohli is a man who sets an example for his teammates. After a poor first Test in Cape Town where India lost and he failed with the bat, India restricted South Africa to 335.

Virat Kohli strode out to bat at 28/2 and with India suffering a collapse in both innings of the first Test, there was a lot of pressure on the Indian captain. And the way he paced his innings was just fabulous. Wickets kept falling around him, but he kept batting like a warrior.

His drives were fluent as ever, he was leaving the ball well, getting behind the line of the ball solidly and more importantly was looking to keep the scoreboard ticking. He scored a sublime 153 (his 21st Test century) and scored almost 50% of the team’s first innings total (307). It was his knock that brought India close to South Africa’s first innings total.

However, this knock wasn’t enough as India lost chasing 287 in the fourth innings.

#4 Sourav Ganguly – 144 vs Australia (Brisbane - 2003)

Under Sourav Ganguly, India were doing quite well overseas. However, Ganguly’s form with the bat was scratchy in 2001 and 2002. But when India toured Australia in 2003/04, the Bengal left-hander answered his critics in style.

In the first Test, the Indian bowlers did well to keep the hosts down to 323 in the first innings. But then India were reduced to 62/3 and with India’s two best batsmen (Dravid and Tendulkar) back in the hut, things seemed uphill. India’s captain Sourav Ganguly who walked in at No. 5 produced a brilliant knock.

He stroked a magnificent 144 to help India reach 409. He drove beautifully and countered the threat of the Aussie pacers very well in testing conditions. He was often criticised for not being able to score big against quality oppositions, but here he silenced his critics wonderfully.

#3 Mohammed Azharuddin – 179 vs England (Old Trafford - 1990)

The 1990 England tour is fondly remembered for a 17-year old Sachin Tendulkar’s first Test ton. However, Mohammed Azharuddin had a wonderful series as captain as well.

After scoring a ton in the first innings of the first Test, Azharuddin was once again leading from the front in the second Test. After England posted 519 in the first innings and India reeling at 57/3, Azhar led India’s fightback. He was simply brilliant. He counter-attacked and scored a superb 179 to help the visitors reach 432.

In fact, on the third day (post lunch session), he became the first Indian player to hit 100 runs in a session. His 243-ball knock helped India reduce the deficit and thus, it made England bat longer in the second innings and eventually a magnificent 119 from a 17-year old Sachin Tendulkar helped India save the game.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar – 169 vs South Africa (Cape Town - 1997)

The 1996/97 South African tour was Sachin Tendulkar’s first overseas tour as captain. And it was off to a disastrous start as India scored only 100 and 66 in the two innings of the first Test.

The second Test also wasn’t a great start for the visitors as they conceded 529 runs in the innings. The South African pace attack which tormented the Indian batting line-up was once again on top as the visitors were reduced to 33/4 (which soon became 58/5). Skipper Tendulkar who walked in at No. 5 needed to do something special to bail his team out of trouble. And he did exactly that. He forged a brilliant 222-run 6th wicket partnership with Mohammed Azharuddin (115).

Tendulkar played a perfect captain’s knock as he scored a stroke-filled 169 to help India avoid the follow-on in the first innings. He 254-ball knock comprised of 26 boundaries and he contributed about 47% to the team’s total. His 169 certainly is one of the best knocks by an Indian skipper.

#1 Virat Kohli – 141 vs Australia (Adelaide - 2014)

Virat Kohli is currently the face of the Indian cricket team. He wears his heart on the sleeve and his aggression is second to none.

Philip Hughes’ sad demise delayed the first Test of India’s tour of Australia in 2014/15. MS Dhoni was ruled out of the first Test with a thumb injury and it was Virat Kohli (who had a very tough 2014) leading the Indian team.

Batting first, Australia racked up 517 in the first innings. Riding on Virat Kohli’s majestic 115, India gave a string reply and posted 444 in their first innings. In the second innings, the visitors were set a target of 364 on the final day and with 98 overs to be bowled, Kohli’s men went after the target.

At 57/2, India were in a tricky situation when Virat Kohli strode out to the middle. Australia were certainly on top at that time. But Kohli totally changed the tempo of the innings. He played with magnificent intent to raise hopes of an unlikely Indian victory. He played almost every shot in his armoury with ease. The cover drive became a trademark. He swept and cover-drove Nathan Lyon out of the rough, he took Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris to the cleaners.

Even though wickets fell all around him, he was relentless in his quest for victory. Unfortunately, he kept losing partners and in the process of attacking, he fell to Lyon and took with him all the hopes. However, by the time he ended his innings, he had scored a scintillating 141. He was absolutely distraught that he couldn’t take his team over the line and this 141 will certainly go down as one of the best ever 4th innings knocks played by an Indian.