Since 2000, the Indian cricket team has won many memorable Test matches outside the subcontinent and some of those triumphs have permanently imprinted their names in the history of Indian cricket.
A team with a dismal record outside the subcontinent recorded some famous Test wins in challenging conditions which are still treasured by one and all.
Many stars of Indian cricket were influential in those triumphs and people still remember their heroics. But there were unsung heroes too, who helped with their splendid performances but didn’t quite get the recognition they deserved.
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Who were they? Let’s find out (We followed the chronological order)
Note: Only the victories that came after 2000 were considered.
1) Sanjay Bangar – Headingley, 2002
People remember this particular Test match for the plethora of runs that the famous trio amassed. Sachin, Sourav, and Rahul scored brilliant hundreds to help India put a mammoth total of 628 and set a thumping innings and 46-run victory over the Englishmen.
However, the scene wouldn’t have looked that rosy had the pair of Dravid and Bangar not survived the opening few overs. Ganguly’s decision to bat first on a seaming Headingley wicket amidst typical English conditions raised quite a few eyebrows and the decision started to look hasty as India lost their opener Virender Sehwag early. However, Sehwag’s opening partner Sanjay Bangar held firm.
Countering the likes of Matthew Hoggard, Andy Caddick, Alex Tudor and Andrew Flintoff, Bangar scored a gutsy 68 off 236 balls and batted for 296 minutes to weather the early storm and lay the foundation for a big score.
His name surely deserves a mention in this list as he played a crucial knock to nullify the swing and seam and stitched an important 170-run partnership with Dravid.
2) Ajit Agarkar – Adelaide, 2003
One of India’s famous Test triumphs overseas- the win at Adelaide was like a fairytale for the Indian team which was made possible by some wonderful batting by Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
Australia put up a huge total of 556 on the board and India started in the disastrous fashion as they lost their first 4 wickets for only 85 runs. From 85 for 4, India scripted a memorable turnaround thanks to Dravid and Laxman, who scored 233 and 148 respectively, to score 523.
However, the Test match could never have been won had Ajit Agarkar not raised to the occasion. Agarkar picked up 6 wickets in Australia’s second innings to bowl them out for 196 and give India a chance to chase 230.
Agarkar got rid of the dangerous Ricky Ponting who scored a double hundred in the first innings to tilt the game in India’s favour and recorded his best figures in Tests.
3) S. Sreesanth – Johannesburg, 2006
One of India’s memorable Test wins overseas and also India’s first Test win on the African soil was made possible by the man who seems to have no connection with cricket nowadays.
Displaying brilliant swing bowling, the mercurial Sreesanth took 8 wickets in the match to set up a magnificent win for the Indian side. In a low scoring game, Sreesanth looked a class apart as he ripped through the Proteas’ batting line-up with his venomous outswingers. And yes, of course, who can forget that six Sreesanth hit off Andre Nel’s bowling after the latter said a few words and the dance that followed!
Due to Sreesanth’s 5-for, South Africa were bowled out for a meagre 84 in the first innings and that really paved the way to India’s victory.
4) RP Singh – Perth, 2008
Perth is always considered to be the fortress of the Aussies and for the teams of the subcontinent, it has always been a daunting place to play because of the true pace and bounce the wicket at Perth possesses.
However, in the 2008 Border-Gavaskar trophy in Australia, the Indian team under the astute leadership of Anil Kumble did the unthinkable as they successfully conquered the fortress.
Most of the members of the team contributed to the win and but one shouldn’t forget the efforts of the young Indian pacer, RP Singh.
In the first innings, he broke the back of the strong Australian batting line-up with a splendid 4-wicket haul and helped India bowl Australia out for a paltry 212.
Then he did his job with the bat. Batting with Laxman, he stitched an important partnership of 51 runs to get India’s lead past 400. Singh contributed by scoring a gutsy 30 off 59 balls and also picked up 2 wickets in the second innings; including the one of Michael Hussey.
5) Ravindra Jadeja – Lord’s 2014
The young Indian side under MS Dhoni completed a historic win in 2014 and it was only India’s second win at the historic venue in 82 years.
Rahane’s hundred and Bhuvneshwar’s 6-for in the 1st Innings, Ishant’s 7-for and Vijay’s gutsy 95 in the second innings-all these combined well to make the win possible.
However, one shouldn’t forget the contribution of Ravindra Jadeja. India needed to give England a target in excess of 300 but were looking in all sorts of trouble when Vijay got out for 95. India were at 235 for 7 and had a lead of 211 runs.
However, the 99-run 8th wicket partnership between Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar tilted the balance of the game and helped India give England a target of 319 runs, which proved to be decisive.
Jadeja counter-attacked the English bowlers in his knock of 68 off 57 balls and was ably supported by his partner. The southpaw also chipped in with 3 wickets in the match (2 in the 1st innings and 1 in the 2nd) to leave his indelible impression in one of India’s famous Test wins overseas.
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