5 fastest Test innings by Indian batsmen

#3 Mohammad Azharuddin - 109(77) vs South Africa at Kolkata - 1996, [18*4s, 1*6, SR - 141.55]

In the most endearing chapter of his wonderful book 'Democracy's XI,' Rajdeep Sardesai profiles Mohammed Azharuddin as a man who never gave in to the details of technique and planning. Brought up by his staunchly religious maternal grandfather, there was an air of carefree genius about him, a belief that his benevolent 'Allah' is always by his side as his guiding light. It reflected quite often in his batting for on his day, Mohammad Azharuddin could be irresistible, with a combination of wristy elegance and power, he could lay threadbare the mediocrities of even the best bowling attacks in the world.

After slamming centuries in his first three Tests (a feat that hasn't been repeated since), Azharuddin went on to enjoy a Test career of fabulous heights and some depthless troughs. At the height of his powers, even a brief blitz from 'Mian Ji' could overshadow everything else; his 121 vs England at Lords' in 1990 was made in the same Test as Graham Gooch's 333, but at the end of the Test, Mian Ji's better than run-a-ball century was the talking point for he took on a better bowling unit in a display of masterly batting.

It is a similar knock that we're talking about in this article. South Africa's first tour of India after the Apartheid was significant for Azhar for he had been relieved from Captaincy, and was eager to prove a point to the selectors. In the second Test of that series, India was asked to bowl first on a dusty Kolkata wicket as South Africa piled on 428 runs in the first innings. India were in trouble at 77-3 in their reply when Azhar came in to bat and in further trouble at 161-7 when he resumed his innings after being hit on the forearm by a rising ball from Brian McMillan. From then on, Azhar began a breathtaking assault on the Proteas, choosing debutant Lance Klusner for a special spanking as he raced to a 74 ball century (still the fastest by an Indian batsman). If the qualification for this article is reset to a century plus innings, then this innings would be at the top.

'Allah' was surely by Mian Ji's side that day.