What is it about Indian batsmen and Eden Gardens? The love affair has been going on for decades, with some of the most memorable Test matches in Indian history coming at this venue. It’s like the city of Kolkata brings out the best in some of the Indian cricketers, the nonchalant Mohammad Azharuddin, the classy VVS Laxman, spin-wizard Harbhajan Singh and the hitman Rohit Sharma to name a few.
On the eve of the second India vs New Zealand Test match, at the Eden Gardens, we take a look at the top 5 Test innings by an Indian batsman at this historic venue:
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#5 Rohit Sharma scores 177 on his Test Debut – November 2013
November 2013, West Indies touring India in a hastily arranged two match Test series, as Sachin Tendulkar sets up for his final swan-song in his 25-year old career.
The first of the two matches was played at Eden Gardens, which saw two debutants for Team India. The talented Rohit Sharma, who had already taken the limited over cricketing world by storm, and fast bowler Mohammad Shami, playing at his Ranji home ground.
The Windies won the toss and decided to bat, but failed to impress as they could only muster 234 runs in the first innings, with Shami picking 4 wickets.
The Indian top-order had a rare off day as they were reduced to 82 for 4. In walked Sharma, with Virat Kohli at the other end. In the space of 2 overs and one run, India lost Kohli as well and they were in a dangerous position at 83 for 5. Sharma along with Dhoni weathered the storm and put on 73 runs when the captain was dismissed for 42 with India in a spot of bother at 156 for 6.
Sharma, though, stood firm and along with Ashwin, made the West Indies attack toil and dragged his team out of the trouble they had put themselves in. He showed immense confidence for a debutant, backed his ability and went on to score a very vital 177 for his team. Ashwin (124) also managed to get to a hundred, his second in Tests and against the same opposition as India finished their first innings at 453 with a lead of 219 runs.
Indian bowlers managed to make light work of the Windies batting in the second innings, dismissing them for a paltry 168, helping India win by an innings and 51 runs. Debutant Shami again impressed with a five-for.
Rohit Sharma, deservedly won the Man of the Match award, after playing a classy innings under pressure on his debut.
#4 Virender Sehwag sets up India’s victory against South Africa with a quick-fire 165 – February 2010
It was India’s ICC Test No.1 ranking on the line as India faced the mighty Proteas in the final match of the 2-match home series. South Africans had convincingly defeated the Indians in the first test match at Nagpur by an innings and 6 runs and were looking to win this match and claim the top spot for themselves.
And they started well, thanks to centuries from Alviro Peterson (100) and Hashim Amla (114), who got together after Zaheer Khan had gotten rid of captain Graeme Smith, again. But things went south very quickly for them as they were bowled out for 296 after being at 239/3 at one stage.
When Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag came out to bat, they would have sensed a chance as South Africa would have been low on morale after the first innings collapse. Sehwag, in his usual style took the attack to the Proteas bowlers comprising of the menacing Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
Supported by Sachin Tendulkar (106) at the other end, he took the game away from them, as the pair put on 249 runs together for the fourth wicket. In the process he scored 165, his 13th 150-plus score at the time, reaching his century in just 87 balls.
VVS Laxman (143) and captain MS Dhoni (132*) chipped in with centuries of their own as India gathered a first-innings lead of 347 runs.
Hashim Amla continued to be a pain for the Indians come the second innings with another unbeaten century as India managed to pull off a victory with hardly any time to spare on the final day, and held on to their No.1 ranking, thanks to some top class spin bowling by Harbhajan Singh.
India’s batting set up this victory as they scored at a whopping 4.2 runs – per over and they had the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag to thank for one of the many memorable innings he has produced for India.
#3 Mohammad Azharuddin scores an unbeaten 163 against the Aussies – March 1998
There is no doubt that playing against the Aussies gets the Indian team fired-up to a whole new level. When Australia were touring India in the 1997/98 season, they had been handed a defeat in the first Test at Chennai by the impressive Indians, led by the successful but controversial Mohammad Azharuddin, thanks to a Sachin Tendulkar special (155).
When the second Test match came around at Kolkata, India were again on top after the home team bowlers did a great job of dismissing the Aussies for 233 in the first innings on an easy wicket. When the Indian team walked out to bat, they showed no mercy as the openers VVS Laxman (95) and Navjot Singh Sidhu (97) gave a wonderful start putting on 191 runs together.
Rahul Dravid chipped in with a masterful 86 and Sachin Tendulkar continued his form from Chennai as he went on a full-out assault on the Aussie bowlers scoring a quick-fire 79. Amidst all this, the captain, Azhar scored his fifth century in six Tests at the Eden Gardens, and it was one of his masterpieces: 163 not out with 18 fours and three sixes. He took his time at the beginning, but once the bowlers tired, Azharuddin cut loose. He put on a stand of 158 runs with Sourav Ganguly (65) as India amassed a total of 633.
India went on to win the Test match by an innings and 219 runs, thanks to another brilliant bowling performance by man of the match Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble.
But it was Azhar who was the true architect of this huge victory, playing a captain’s knock, helping India seal the series win.
#2 Rahul Dravid’s 180 in the historic 2001 Test against the Aussies – March 2001
While most remember the Kolkata Test match for VVS Laxman’s 281 and Harbhajan Singh’s hat-trick with the ball, Rahul Dravid’s contribution to the victory is, most often than not, overlooked which is not something new for The Wall of Indian cricket.
He was dropped to number 6 in the batting order and was under severe criticism for failing against the Australians. He was dehydrated, he was cramping. But he did not stop. He never does. That’s Rahul Dravid for you. He embodies hard work, he personifies the effort in order for one to achieve greatness. And he went on and did just that at the Eden Gardens, scoring a vital 180 as he put on a record 376-run stand for the fifth wicket alongside VVS Laxman.
His celebration on reaching his century told you the entire story. Never one to show his emotions, Dravid jumped in the air, both hands aloft, just giving us a glimpse of what this innings meant to him on a personal level, and for the team.
This innings summed up his entire cricketing career, which holds true for every cricketer, every person in any field, that, nothing comes easy in life, but when it does, it leaves with you a feeling of deepest satisfaction for it was the fruition of your toil and determination to excel.
#1 VVS Laxman’s 281 grinds the Aussies into defeat – March 2001
When VVS Laxman walked in to bat for the second time in the 2001 Test match against the mighty Australians, India were struggling. Australia had amassed 445 runs in their first innings riding on captain Steve Waugh’s 110.
After a dismal performance in the first innings, getting bowled out for a 171, and losing opener Sadagopan Ramesh with the score at 52 in the second innings – after the follow-on had been forced by the Kangaroos, in walked the Hyderabad batsman. India were still trailing by 222 runs and judging by the first innings performance, it was going to take a Herculean effort to get something out of this game.
And VVS provided just that. What followed next was history in the making. It was the stuff of legends, a knock that would go on to be rated as the best of the century. An innings that would be spoken about for ages and ages to come. Laxman, drawing inspiration from the Kolkata crowd, went on to score 281, the highest score by an Indian in a Test innings, until the Nawab of Najafgarh would break it three years later.
It was an innings of the highest order as Laxman toyed with the Australian attack for almost two days of play. Legendary Shane Warne himself concedes, “I was bowling in the foot marks and Laxman was hitting the same ball through cover or whipping it through midwicket. It was so hard to bowl then.”
Along with Rahul Dravid, Laxman set the stage for the greatest ever comeback victories in the annals of cricket history. India went on to win the Test match by a 171 runs, thanks to a 13-wicket haul in the game for then-young Harbhajan Singh, which also included a hat-trick. In the process, India also managed to put an end to Australia’s record winning streak.
It would not be wrong to say that this Test match changed the way the world looked at Indian cricket. And VVS Laxman was at the heart of it.
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