Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
Top 5 Test Knocks in IND-ENG Tests in India Since 2000 | Top 5 Best Test Knocks in IND-ENG Tests in India since the start of the century
To the delight of all the Indian cricket fans, international cricket is back in India with the English cricket team touring the cricket-crazy nation for four tests, five T20Is and three ODIs. Thus, we are going to witness the historic rivalry for more than one-and-a-half months.
Talking about this century, these two sides have faced each other 17 times in Tests in India, from which India, being the better side, have won eight times. England have managed to win just three games, with six drawn. In these 17 encounters, several splendid knocks were played by the batsmen from both the sides. In this article, I am going to mention the best five knocks out of them. Here we go.
5. Karun Nair 303* (381), Chennai, 2016
It was the fifth and final Test of the series and India had already grabbed the trophy by taking an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the five-match series. After winning the toss, England had posted a very impressive score of 477 runs in the first innings thanks to a brilliant 146 from Moeen Ali.
In reply, India started their innings with a positive note, but lost three quick wickets within 59 runs including the wicket of their premier batsman, Virat Kohli, and thus were a little bit bothered. Karun Nair, who was playing just his third game, went to bat at number 5. The ball was gripping on the surface, England had three spinners and India were still trailing by 266 runs; so batting was not an easy task at all.
Karun Nair first did the rescue operation by forming a consolidating stand of 161 runs with KL Rahul, which took India to a safer position. He reached his double hundred in 306 balls and then raced to his triple hundred within next 75 balls; which was phenomenal. He dominated the English spinners by playing cuts, sweeps, reverse sweeps, pulls and lofted shots down the ground. This innings was a proper exhibition of matured batting. He superbly paced his innings and India took a lead of a huge 282 runs having played just 32 odd overs more than England. It was a very important achievement in the context of the match and India won the game by an innings and 75 runs after bowling out England easily.
4. Virat Kohli 235 (340), Mumbai, 2016
The year 2016 completely belonged to Virat Kohli and this knock added just another feather to the King’s crown. India had a great lead of 2-0 in the series before heading to this game and England posted a solid total of 400 runs in their first innings after deciding to bat first.
India were 146 for 2 when Kohli entered the centre. He formed a good partnership of 116 runs with Murali Vijay, but it was his partnership of 241 runs with Jayant Yadav for the 8th wicket that set the stage for a victory for India. His knock of 235 included 25 gorgeous fours and a lone six. He was in sublime touch throughout this innings and dominated all the English bowlers. This was his third double century in tests in 2016 and this knock was instrumental for India to take a huge lead of 231 runs and accomplishing an innings victory.
3. Alastair Cook 190 (377), Kolkata, 2012
Alastair Cook is one of those English batsmen who dominated India in Tests in India. The way he used to deal with Indian spinners was exemplary. This was the 3rd game of the classic 2012 series, and India had scored 316 runs in their first innings.
In reply, England were able to score 523 runs by virtue of this marathon knock of Captain Cook. He showed enormous resistance on that turning track and faced 377 deliveries. He waited for the bad deliveries to cash in and hit 23 beautiful fours and two sixes on his way to 190. I believe the victory in the previous test at Mumbai boosted the confidence of all the English players to a great extent and Cook was well supported by the other batsmen of his team in this innings. Unfortunately, he got run out and couldn’t complete his double hundred, but this innings set the tone for a memorable victory for England to be cherished for ages as they later went on to win the series 2-1.
2. Sachin Tendulkar 103*(196), Chennai, 2008
This game and moreover this series was special and India will forever remain thankful to the English cricket team for their decision to come back to play the Test series just after the terror attack in Mumbai. The victory of India in this Test made the emotional moment memorable and it was none other than the favourite of the millions of Indian Cricket fans, Sachin Tendulkar, who played the match winning knock of 103.
There were his trademark drives, ferocious cuts, delicate upper cuts and paddle sweeps all around the park. He was comfortable as well as confident against the likes of Flintoff, Swann, Panesar and Anderson on that deteriorating track and looked determined to win the game for India that day. Chasing a total of 387 in the 4th innings in Chennai was a mammoth task and India created history by chasing that successfully because of this knock.
1. Kevin Pietersen 186 (233), Mumbai, 2012
This is definitely the best knock by an English batsman on Indian soil among those I have seen. Following a harsh defeat by a margin of nine wickets at Ahmedabad, England were struggling once again in the first innings of the 2nd test at Mumbai having lost two wickets for 68 runs.
The ball was turning and India had three world-class spinners in Harbhajan, Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha. In such a scenario, scoring a blistering 186 from just 233 balls needs some real courage and extraordinary stroke play. Pietersen did what he was best at; counter attack. His knock included 20 fours and 4 sixes; which means 104 runs out of 186 came from boundaries, such was his dominance.
He effortlessly played sweeps, reverse sweeps, lofted big shots all around the park. His knock allowed Alastair Cook to take his time and play his natural game. They both stitched a much needed big partnership of 206 runs and England got an important lead of 86 runs in the 1st innings. Later they bowled out India for mere 142 runs in the 2nd innings and won the game by 10 wickets.
This is my list of best five knocks in the tests between India and England in India in this century. Do any others come to mind? Share your thoughts!
Top 5 Test Knocks in IND-ENG Tests in India Since 2000 | Top 5 Best Test Knocks in IND-ENG Tests in India since the start of the century
Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.
