5 fastest Test innings by Indian batsmen

#1 Kapil Dev - 89(55) vs England at Lord's (1982) [13*4s, 3*6s, SR - 161.81]

Occupying the top spot is the maverick Kapil Dev, who makes his second appearance in the list, and no better innings could have held this honour. For a few months prior to this series, Kapil's claim as an all-rounder was in doubt for while he was producing the goods with the ball, his batting left a lot to be desired. England, meanwhile, had Ian Botham who was fresh from the triumphant Ashes series and was easily England's leading batsman 'and' bowler. The two all-rounders' head to head contest for one-upmanship was the highlight of this series for what one did, the other did it better.

In the first Test of the series at Lords', India were asked to bowl as England piled on 433 in their first innings with Kapil Dev returning figures of 5-125. India's reply was pathetic with only Gavaskar offering (token) resistance with a knock of 48 in a team total of 128. Following-on, India fared better in the second innings a Vengsarkar led the charge with a stylish 157 but were still in the dumps when Kapil arrived at the crease at 252/6. What followed was absolute carnage as Kapil played one of the great counter-attacking innings by an Indian batsman overseas. In a dazzling display of shots all around the wicket (especially the nonchalant hoick over square-leg for six off Botham), Kapil entertained the scant crowd which was fortunate enough to witness it. Had he continued, he would have broken the record for the fastest Test century.

It is for no reason that Gavaskar is irked at the very mention of a comparison between Kapil Dev and Hardik Pandya, he has witnessed so much of the former's mastery that he is justified in the extremely high regard he has for the champion all-rounder.