Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
Top 5 Best India Test Matches Since 2000 | Best Test Matches for India since 2020 | What is the best India Test Match? Best India Test Matches
India have been involved in many memorable matches since 2000, across formats. This includes matches against Pakistan, although we don’t see the great rivalry as often as we should.
However, in 211 Tests since January 2nd, 2000, India have been involved in Test matches so memorable that they are still spoken of as if they happened yesterday.
As a result, choosing India’s top five Tests over the course of 20 years is a challenge. There have been many, including memorable wins over England, Australia, South Africa and the like. So, the selection of the top five is based on the following criteria:
- Match context: Did India have their backs against the wall? Considered next-to-no-chance of winning?
- Series context: Was the series still alive?
- A match that helped shape Indian cricket and inspire a nation.
5. England vs India, 2nd Test 2007, Trent Bridge
India won a Test in England in 2002 (Headingley), which was a landmark moment. India had won just two Tests in the country in their previous 41 attempts.
However, their win in 2007 at Trent Bridge was more special. In the previous three summers before the 2007 series, England had smashed New Zealand and West Indies (2004), beat Australia in the memorable 2005 Ashes, drew to Sri Lanka and beat Pakistan 3-0 (2006).
England were on a roll. India escaped with the most thrilling of draws in the first Test, but it was widely expected that England would do what they did to Australia in 2005 – build on such a close miss and then win the series. However, led by Zaheer Khan and their great batsmen, India inspired belief that they could win more matches overseas, en-route to their first series win in England since 1986.

4. Australia vs India, 2nd Test 2003, Adelaide
One of India’s greatest ever Test matches.
Most people would have thought that only two results were possible: an Australian win or a fighting draw from India when Australia piled on 556 in their first innings, led by Ricky Ponting’s 242,. Then, when India were down-and-out at 85/4, an Australian win seemed inevitable.
However, Rahul Dravid (233), the only batsman to face 30,000+ balls in Tests, and VVS Laxman (148) tormented Australia once again. They slammed a 303-run stand that formed the biggest chunk of India’s huge 523.
But, one big batting total is not enough to win a Test; your bowlers need to step up to the plate as well. Ajit Agarkar did just that, taking 6/41 to bowl Australia out for 196. Crucially, India took just 56.2 overs to roll Australia, which gave their batsmen time to chase 233. Led by the great Rahul Dravid once again (72*), India got home by four wickets in one of their greatest triumphs.
Australia’s 556 is the fourth-highest first innings score to result in a defeat in Test history, and Australia’s second-highest. A great effort from India.
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3. India vs England, 1st Test 2008, Chennai
This was more than just the result. It was an outpouring of emotion.
India was rocked by a terrorist attack in Mumbai just weeks earlier. So, England’s tour of India was understandably thrown into doubt. But, when it went ahead, only the most optimistic Indian fan could have dreamt of what happened next.
Just two years earlier, England thrashed India in Mumbai, as India failed badly in their quest of a 300+ fourth innings score. But, Chennai 2008, one of the finest moments for both Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar, was a different story.
Set an improbable 387 to win a turning track, Sehwag, who won Player of the Match, rocked England early with a stunning 82 off 68 balls. The Little Master then walked in to bat early on the fifth morning after Dravid was dismissed cheaply. The rest was history, as Tendulkar produced one of the great fourth innings hundreds you’ll see, in conjunction with Yuvraj Singh’s superb unbeaten 85* (131) to get India over the line by a stunning six wickets. A win for the ages.

2. India vs Australia, 1st Test 2010, Mohali
Mohali 2010. A match that haunts Australia fans. One that puts a huge smile on the face of every Indian fan who witnessed it.
After both sides scored 400+ in contrasting fashion (Australia steady, India rollicking), the game opened up in the third innings, as most great Tests do. India’s effort to bowl Australia out for 192 gave them a very gettable 216 to win. However, with the pitch showing significant signs of wear and tear, India kept crashing under the waves of Australian pace bowling pressure, falling to 124/8.
A loss was inevitable. One that would have been condemned by all in India, given that Australia fielded only one specialist spinner – the much-maligned Nathan Hauritz, who only bowled just nine overs out of 58.3, and went at five an over.
But, when VVS Laxman is at the crease, anything is possible. He and the stubborn Ishant Sharma (31 off 92 balls) raised hopes of a miraculous comeback with every boundary and forward prod respectively, eventually taking India to within 11 runs of victory.
However, a game like this was not going to end without further drama. Laxman, suffering from a sore back, needed a runner. Ishant, who batted so stoutly, was given out LBW when the ball was heading way down leg. Pragyan Ohja, India’s number 11, was a nervous wreck, refusing to run when Suresh Raina called him for a single. VVS Laxman was famously furious. Then, Ohja was plumb LBW, only for Billy Bowden to give it not out, before Steve Smith threw the ball for four overthrows in a run-out attempt.
Two leg-byes later, India had their amazing win, which was one of their great escapes. Australia were crestfallen, going on to lose the two-match series 2-0.
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1. India vs Australia, 2nd Test 2001, Eden Gardens
Shut the gates. While picking four of India’s other great wins in a top five was difficult, the number one pick is straight forward. Eden Gardens 2001 is a match no India fan will ever forget.
Australia hadn’t won a Test series in India since 1969. Steve Waugh’s side, on the back of 15 straight wins, travelled to India with strong belief that they could finally break the drought. And, they were well on the way, thumping India in the first Test and then picking up a huge 274-run lead in the next, after rolling India for 171.
The Australians were buoyant. Confident. Smelling blood in the water. Forget batting again, they believed they could win by an innings. After all, they were a side that had won 16 straight Tests before this match. Follow-on enforced. India’s first four wickets produced a very respectable 233, but they were still 41 runs behind. History-making series win for Australia in the making.
Until Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman joined each other at the crease.
VVS Laxman’s 281 “altered the world’s perception of India” in the words of the great man himself. It instilled belief that India could achieve anything. That they were never down-and-out. And boy, a lot of belief was needed to pull this off, as only two teams had previously won after being forced to follow on in the history of Test cricket.
Laxman and Dravid’s 376-run stand is etched in Indian cricket folklore. Laxman was full of belief. Dravid responded to something written about him earlier with a big celebration after reaching his 100. Steve Waugh bowled everyone but himself and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist on a solemn fourth day for the Aussies (355 runs): the harshest of harsh reminders that cricket can be a funny game. However, if this Test were a comedian, Waugh and the Aussies would throw anything and everything at it in abuse with a loud chorus of boos.
Eden Gardens was full. 50,000 spectators. After taking a 274-run lead, Australia then needed 384 to win the game. Or bat out the rest of day five without losing 10 wickets. They couldn’t, with Harbhajan Singh taking 6/73 to finish the script of India’s greatest ever Test win. They levelled that series, which they went on to win 2-1. Memorable.

So, are there any other Test matches, such as Australia 2018, that come to mind that you feel should be included? Have your say.
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