5 of India's most memorable victories by an innings

Cricket in India was introduced by the European merchant sailors in the 18th century but it was not before 1932 India got to play its first Test match. Under the captaincy of C.K.Naydu, the Indian team became the 6th nation in the world to be granted Test status. The initial years in the international circuit wasn’t that good and it took 25 Tests and 20 years for India to win its first Test match.

In the 90’s under the captaincy of Mohammed Azharuddin , the Indians became invincible at home but their away record was far from impressive. It was under Sourav Ganguly that India started winning abroad on a regular basis. The arrival of Sachin Tendulkar paved a whole new dimension to Indian batting during the 90’s and after the emergence of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid the middle order looked rock solid.

The last 2 to 3 decades had been eventful for Indian cricket they have come out on top in many memorable matches. The victories have been sweet when inflicted with a innings defeats on their opposition and even more so when on foreign soil. Now here we bring you five memorable matches where India inflicted innings victories.

#1 India Vs South Africa (Kolkata, 2010, innings & 57 runs)

India came into the match 1-0 down in the series and they had to win to keep their No.1 ranking in Tests intact. The match was far more thrilling than the scorecard suggested and though India won by an innings, Hashim Amla along with No. 11 Morne Morkel almost saved an impossible match for the Proteas.

Proteas won the toss and opted to bat. After a solid platform laid down by Hashim Amla and Alviro Peterson, the Proteas lost the plot altogether and from a healthy 218-1 they collapsed like a pack of cards and were bundled out for 296 in their 1st innings. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh were the wreckers-in-chief with 4 and 3 wickets respectively.

India responded in a terrific fashion and courtesy centuries from Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni they piled up a mammoth 643/6 dec in their 1st innings. The match was firmly in India’s grasp and all they needed was to dismiss the Proteas inside 2 days. Rain gods played spoilsport on the fourth day and Indians had to take 7 wickets on the final day to win the Test match.

It was Harbhajan Singh who spun a web around the South African batsmen and with 20 overs left India was just one wicket away from a memorable victory.

But a certain Hashim Amla was not yet ready to give up and he along with Morne Morkel kept their hopes alive for a series victory. Morkel played out 76 balls but in the penultimate over of the match a Bhajji arm ball struck Morkel plumb in front and he was adjudged out. It was one of the most memorable Test matches ever, and it was Harbhajan Singh’s spell that enabled India to keep their No.1 ranking in Tests intact.

#2 India vs Pakistan (Multan, 2004, innings & 52 runs)

Team India in a huddle after winning against Pakistan at Multan

The Indians were touring Pakistan after a gap of 15 years and apart from Sachin Tendulkar, no one had the exposure of playing in Pakistan. Under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, the Indians looked a fiery bunch and were ready to take the fight to the Pakistanis in their own den.

The Multan crowd witnessed a scintillating display of batsmanship by Virender Sehwag and he went on to became the 1st Indian to notch up a triple century and the 1st in the world to reach triple figures with a six. He was ably supported by Sachin Tendulkar and when the innings was declared on 675 Sachin was left stranded on 194.

The Pakistanis batted reasonably well in their 1st innings but the scoreboard pressure was too big and they could only manage 407. Stand in captain Rahul Dravid enforced the follow on with Pakistanis needing 269 to make India bat again.

It was Jumbo’s flippers and wrong ones that undid the Pakistanis and they surrendered meekly getting bundled out for a meagre 216 in their 2nd innings handing India a memorable victory by an innings and 52 runs.

#3 India vs Australia (Kolkata, 1998, innings & 219 runs)

Mohammed Azharuddin played a vital role in the innings victory

It was the 2nd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India were leading the series 1-0. Australia won the toss and elected to bat. They received early jolts as Javagal Srinath wrecked havoc among the Aussie top order. They were reduced to 29-4 and it was Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh who resurrected the innings somewhat. Ganguly, Srinath and Kumble all chipped in with 3 wickets each and the Aussies were bowled out for a below-par 233.

The Indians responded with a humungous 633/5 dec as all the top 6 batsmen went beyond 50. The Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin was at his imperious best, belting the Aussie attack all round the park. He declared the innings at a personal score of 163.

Now the onus was on the bowlers to deliver the goods and they didn’t disappoint. One of the biggest match winners for India, Anil Kumble bamboozled the Aussie batsmen with his variations and got able support from his friend Javagal Srinath. The former picked up 5 wickets, with the latter finishing with 3.

The Australias were bowled out for a paltry 181 handing India victory by a margin of an innings and 219 runs. The victory also ensured India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3 match series.

#4 India vs England (Leeds, 2002, innings & 46 runs)

The Indian team celebrate after defeating England at Headingley

India was trailing 1-0 in the series and needed a victory in order to level the series. Sourav Ganguly won the toss and opted to bat.The Indians got off to a relatively sedate start with the fall of Sehwag’s wicket early but Rahul Dravid along with Sanjay Bangar stitched together a 170 run partnership. Dravid was piling up runs and with Sachin Tendulkar joining in, the pair looked to consolidate on a position of strength.

Tendulkar took the attack to the English bowlers and started scoring quickly. When Dravid fell after scoring a brilliant 148, the Indian score read 335-3 and they looked firmly in control of the match.The Indian captain joined the little master at the crease and both of them took the positive approach and started looking for quick runs.

Sachin Tendulkar played some audacious shots hitting few monstrous sixes in the process. Sourav Ganguly was not far behind either and both of them notched up their centuries.The Indian score reached 584 when Ganguly attempted a wild slog and lost his wicket.

Sachin Tendulkar who was set for a well deserved double century lost his wicket in the 3rd morning on 193. The innings was eventually declared on 628. It was the initial burst from Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar that shook their top order.

Harbhajan and Kumble both bowled in the right areas and got the breakthroughs at crucial intervals. Both finished with 3 wickets each, bundling out England for 273 in their first innings. The English conceded a huge lead and was asked to bat again by the touring captain.

It was again the experience and guile of Anil Kumble that totally foxed the English batsmen in their 2nd innings. A valiant century by the home captain Naseer Hussain went in vain as England could manage only 309 in their 2nd innings. It was one of the greatest away wins for India and this victory also enabled them to level the series 1-1.

#-5 India vs West Indies ( North Sound, 2016, Innings & 92 runs)

Virat Kohli raises his bat after scoring his maiden Test double century

The Indians came into the series as firm favourites and it was evident from their performance in the very first Test of the 4 match series. The Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and without any hesitation opted to bat first. India lost Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara relatively early and when Virat Kohli joined Shikhar Dhawan at the middle the score read 74/2.

Virat Kohli started on a positive note playing some exquisite drives and punches through the off side. Shikhar Dhawan was slowly getting into his groove and the duo looked ominous. Dhawan fell 16 short of his century while attempting a slog sweep of Devendra Bishoo.

Ajinkya Rahane fell cheaply too and Ravichandran Ashwin joined Virat Kohli at the fall of the 4th wicket, ahead of Wriddhiman Saha. Maybe his twin centuries against West Indies earlier might have played a role in promoting him up the order.

Virat Kohli played a wonderful knock and went up to notch his first Test double century in his already illustrious career. Ravichandran Ashwin was at his fluent best timing the ball sweetly and he went on to score his 3rd Test century and also the 3rd against West Indies. When the captain declared the innings the score was 566/8.

The West Indies batting line-up was lacking experience and Mohammed Shami, the comeback man got into their skin straight away. He started bowling in impeccable areas and swung the ball both ways. He dismissed 4 top order batsman including Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels, the mainstay of the Windies batting line-up.

The Windies were bowled out for 243 and were asked to bat again. The wicketless bowler from the first innings Ishant Sharma removed the half-centurion from the first innings, Kraig Brathwaite early and the writing was on the wall. Ashwin who went wicketless in the first innings was literally unplayable in the 2nd essay. He finished with 7 wickets bowling out West Indies for 231.