5 forgotten victories of India under Mohammad Azharuddin's captaincy

#2 Against Sri Lanka in Colombo (1993 Test series)

Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar hammered a century each to propel India to victory

During the 1990s, India remained unconquered against numerous visiting teams. No opposition could win a Test series on Indian soil during that particular decade. However, the team's fortunes outside their comfort zone were in stark contrast to their enviable success at home. From as many as 39 Tests, they could only notch a solitary victory as against 15 defeats.

India's only Test victory away from home during the 90s came in Sri Lanka. With persistent rain washing out the first match of the series in Kandy, the action moved to Colombo after a brief 50-over stop-over in the same city. Upon winning the toss, the visitors rode on a significant partnership between Navjot Singh Sidhu and Vinod Kambli before a middle-order collapse restricted their total to 366. The attacking left-hander top-scored with a powerful century.

Anil Kumble's five-wicket haul enabled India to gain a handy first-innings lead. Sidhu and Manoj Prabhakar shared a substantial opening stand to assert India's dominance. The former managed to three-figures this time around. Sachin Tendulkar's rapid century swelled the lead before Azharuddin declared the innings. Chasing an improbable target of 472, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 236 by a combined effort from the bowlers. India maintained their 1-0 lead in the next Test to complete a series victory.

Brief Scores: India - 366 (Vinod Kambli 125, Navjot Singh Sidhu 82, Jayananda Warnaweera 3/76) & 359/4 declared (Sidhu 104, Sachin Tendulkar 104*, Manoj Prabhakar 95, Ruwan Kalpage 2/97); Sri Lanka - 254 (Arjuna Ranatunga 88, Anil Kumble 5/87) & 236 (Aravinda de Silva 93, Prabhakar 3/49)

Result - India won by 235 runs