Top 3 Test knocks by Indian batsmen this decade

The decade (2010-2019) saw the intertwining of two generations of Indian cricketers in Tests. While legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman were on their way out, youngsters like Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane made their mark in no uncertain terms. Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal have also joined the party of late.

The transition from old to new has also reflected in the results India have produced in the decade. While India under MS Dhoni rose to the number one ranking, that was primarily on the back of a great home run. The same side were embarrassed 4-0 in England, and later in Australia by the same margin.

The ageing warriors found the going extremely tough in away conditions. Following the humiliation Down Under, Dravid and Laxman hung up their boots. Tendulkar and Sehwag followed suit a couple of years later.

Life though has come a full circle for the Indian Test team; they end the year as the number one side in the world under Kohli. As a celebration of Indian cricket in the decade, here’s a look at the top three Test knocks by their batsmen.

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#3 Virat Kohli (141 at Adelaide, December 2014)

It was a baptism by fire for Virat Kohli on Test captaincy debut. Of course, the honour came to him by chance as regular skipper MS Dhoni was not fit for the match - the first Test of the four-match series played at Adelaide from December 9-13, 2014.

Kohli had already impressed in the first innings by notching up 115 as India posted 444. His maiden hundred as captain in his very first attempt meant India were in the game despite hundreds from David Warner, Steve Smith and skipper Michael Clarke taking Australia to 517 for 7 declared in their first innings.

However, it was in the second innings that Kohli gave the first glimpses of his tremendous quality as leader with the bat. India were chasing a highly challenging 364 to win the Test. Even as the visitors lost Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara early, Kohli batted with the belief that India could achieve the target.

He found an able ally in Murali Vijay, and the duo took India to 242 for 2 - a stage from which victory was a realistic opportunity. Unfortunately for India though, Nathan Lyon trapped Vijay lbw for 99, and that opened the floodgates.

Even as wickets kept falling at the other end, Kohli did not give up. He batted on valiantly, finding key boundaries. As long as Kohli was at the crease, India’s hopes, even if slender, were alive.

However, the dreaded moment came when, on 141, Kohli was caught off Lyon. India soon crumbled to 315 all out to lose the match by 48 runs. Kohli, whose knock featured 16 fours and a six, thus began his captaincy stint on a disappointing note.

In a way though, the innings was a precursor to what India was to achieve Down Under four years later.

#2 Ajinkya Rahane (103 at Lord’s, July 2014)

Although 103 is not a big score in Test cricket, Ajinkya Rahane’s knock gets the vote considering the tough circumstances under which it was scored, and the eventual result.

After England inserted India into bat on a first-day Lord’s surface, their fast bowlers were licking their lips in anticipation. India’s fears came true as James Anderson and Liam Plunkett sent back openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay cheaply.

The hosts kept chipping away at the wickets as Pujara and Kohli fell in the 20s, and Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja for single figures.

At 145 for 7, it seemed like England had made the clinching difference on Day 1 itself. However, Rahane defied the rampant Englishmen with a technically proficient knock, bringing all his skill sets into play.

The Mumbai batsman featured in a 90-run stand for the eighth wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (36).

Rahane was the ninth man to fall, with the scoreboard reading 275. The current Indian vice-captain hit 15 fours and a six in his 154-ball stay, as India ended up posting a challenging 295.

Despite Bhuvneshwar’s 6 for 82, England responded with 319 all out as Gary Ballance struck 110 and Plunkett made an unbeaten 55.

Set to chase 319 to win the match after Vijay’s 95 and fifties from Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar, Ishant Sharma ensured that Rahane’s efforts on the opening day did not go in vain, with splendid returns of 7 for 74. India won the Test by 95 runs.

#1 Cheteshwar Pujara (123 at Adelaide, December 2018)

Although one has to admit that Australia were a weakened side due to the absence of the suspended David Warner and Steve Smith over the ball-tampering fiasco, they had the best bowlers available for the series. That makes Cheteshwar Pujara’s contribution all the more telling.

Although Pujara hit two match-winning hundreds in the series, it is his 123 in the first Test at Adelaide that holds the most significance, as it set the tone of things to follow.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, India needed to post a decent score on the board. However, they were soon 3 for 19 and later 86 for 5. At that stage, it seemed like the same old story of India fumbling away from home would play out again.

Pujara, of course, had different plans. He knuckled down and ensured India did not crumble completely. Occupying the crease for 376 minutes, he faced 246 balls for his masterful 123.

The knock featured seven fours and, rather uncharacteristically, two sixes. Pujara’s innings, which ended when he got run-out, ensured India touched 250.

Unlike in the past, India possessed the bowling arsenal to trouble the opponents. Ishant (2/47), Jasprit Bumrah (3/47), Mohammed Shami (2/58) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/57) combined brilliantly to reduce Australia to 235.

Pujara and Rahane then hit 70s in the second innings as India set the Aussies 323 to win.

Despite Shaun Marsh’s 60 and a commendable fightback by the lower order, Australia fell short by 31 runs. Bumrah, Ashwin and Shami shared three wickets each, but it was Pujara who laid the foundation of the memorable win and, in hindsight, the historic series triumph.