7 defining Test innings by Indian batsmen that were not centuries 

#1 VVS Laxman – 96 (Durban, 2010)

VVS Laxman has often come to India's rescue in difficult situations

After losing the first Test in Centurion, India were put into bat by South Africa. After the Indian openers provided a decent start, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals.

India’s crisis man, VVS Laxman walked out to bat when the score read 79/3. He looked in superb touch as he scored 38 and was going really well before he nailed a pull-shot straight to mid-on where Tsotsobe plucked out a brilliant catch. India were bowled out for 205 and Laxman’s 38 was the highest of the innings.

After a disappointing performance with the bat, India’s bowlers brought them back in the game as they bowled South Africa out for just 131. But the initiative was slipping away quickly when they were reduced to 48/3 (which soon became 93/5).

But India’s second-innings specialist was still at the crease. VVS Laxman had bailed his team out of trouble from such situations on various occasions before. But here the pressure was different, against a top-notch bowling attack. But he battled it out and scored a fighting 96 to take India to 228 and set the hosts a target of 303. The way he batted with the tail (for the umpteenth time) was fantastic.

India won the game by 87 runs and levelled the series. Laxman was awarded the Man of the Match for his superb batting.