5 nostalgic moments from England vs India Test matches

#5. 1986: Vengsarkar's vintage brilliance and Gavaskar’s gumption

Dilip Vengsarkar scored three centuries at the Lord's

India’s tour of England in 1986 is memorable for a multitude of reasons. The visitors won the three Test match series 2-0. England’s batsman struggled with the Indian seamer’s movement in the English conditions. English bowlers struggled for answers against a technically sound batting line up. In many ways, this tour was a paradox. Indian batsmen playing well against swing and bounce. The English struggling to bat in English conditions. India closing out tests nervelessly.

However, two Indian stars will remember fondly this tour for very different reasons. Sunil Gavaskar had been a prolific run-scorer for India till now. With double centuries aplenty against the mighty West Indies attach home and away, he was expected to contribute significantly in this tour. And contribute he did, but in a very different manner from what was expected. Gavaskar’s contribution to the cause was average in terms of runs scored, but he made a priceless contribution in terms of the important but often forgotten variable in attritional test match cricket - time. He scored 20+ in 5 of the 6 innings, and spent more an average of 99 minutes at the crease, blunting the swinging Duke ball, and making it easier for the Indian middle order to bat.

While Gavaskar’s gumption was the shield for India, Vengsarkar’s vintage brilliance was the sword to wristily slice through the English bowling. He became the first away batsman to score three international centuries at the Mecca of Cricket when he scored a match-winning hundred at Lord’s creating one of the most memorable moments for Indian cricket as India dominated a Test series away from home. Dilip Vengsarkar with both hands raised in the sky with the Lord’s crowd giving him a standing ovation is the defining image of this Test series.