A look back at the 7 greatest Indian Test innings of the 21st Century

1. VVS Laxman 281 vs Australia at Kolkata, 2001

VVS Laxman

The only batsmen to appear twice on our list. Laxman’s exploits against Australia are unparalleled and his 281 in 2001 set the ball rolling.

Australia made 445 in their first innings and bundled India out for 171, thus enforcing the follow-on. In India’s second innings, Laxman came out to bat with the score reading 52-1. After 631 minutes on the field, the only thing the whole cricketing fraternity could do was stand and applaud.

Laxman wielded his bat like a magic wand and conjured magic on his way to a heroic 281. He was ably supported by Dravid but the test match was all about Laxman. He played Warne adroitly, driving him through the covers with remarkable efficiency. Against the fast bowlers, he was scintillating. He waited for the bowlers to bowl into his areas and then picked them off. He cut, he pulled, he drove and he wrote his name into the history books.

A team winning after being asked to follow-on is not a very common sight. Thus, the innings by Laxman ranks a notch above any other. In the process, India also brought Australia’s famed winning streak to a grinding halt.

Laxman’s 281 would not be out of place in a list of the greatest test innings ever played. Hence, it is no surprise that his masterclass at Eden Gardens is the greatest Indian Test innings of the 21st century.