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Team India will begin their quest in Sydney after a disappointing 184-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia currently lead the five-match series 2-1 and have one hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
India's batting has been a topic of discussion throughout the series. The lean patch of form of two of their best batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has sparked a lot of speculation. There have been talks about their retirement from red-ball cricket. Rishabh Pant has thrown away starts, playing rash shots, which have also been heavily debated following the Melbourne defeat.
Rohit and company need to fare better as a batting unit if they have to level the series and keep their hope of making it to the ICC World Test Championship final alive. They can draw inspiration from how they have performed at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the past. Sydney will host the final Test of the series, starting January 3.
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On that note, let's look at the top five knocks by an Indian batter in Tests at the SCG.
#5 Virat Kohli - 147 runs
The former Indian skipper has had an awful run of form so far in the series down under. Barring the hundred in the second innings of the Perth Test, he has hardly done anything. The channel outside the off-stump has troubled him yet again.
However, Virat Kohli thrives playing on Australian soil - the best of which came during the 2014-15 tour. The right-hander scored an excellent 169 in Melbourne and followed it up with another special knock of 147 in Sydney.
Kohli batted 315 minutes and played 230 deliveries for his 147. His innings was laced with 20 boundaries and no sixes. He and KL Rahul scored centuries in that match as India narrowed the gap with Australia's first innings total of 572/7 declared.
The match, however, ended in a tie after batting masterclasses from both teams.
#4 Rishabh Pant - 159 runs
The young wicketkeeper-batter had a dream run in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, chipping in with handy knocks in the middle order. The best came at the SCG, where Pant smashed 159 - his highest knock in red-ball cricket.
Batting first, Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal got the visitors off to an excellent start. Although there was a mild blip with Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane getting out in quick succession, Pant made sure there was no batting collapse.
The southpaw played 189 deliveries for his unbeaten 159, including 15 boundaries and a six. India eventually declared their innings at 622/7. The bowlers did well to enforce a follow-on on Australia but the Test match eventually ended in a draw.
#3 VVS Laxman - 178 runs
VVS Laxman was part of the iconic Fab Five - the power-packed batting lineup of the Indian team also comprising Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid.
The right-hander played some magical knocks in the red-ball format, including the 178-run knock at the SCG.
Batting first, Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra got the visiting side off to a decent start before the magical innings from Sachin Tendulkar followed. While the innings overshadowed the rest of the good work done by the Indian batters, Laxman played a gem of a knock.
The Hyderabad-born cricketer scored 178 off 298 deliveries and batted for 403 minutes. His knock was laced with 30 boundaries, as he toiled with the Aussie bowlers.
The Test match saw over 1500 runs being scored and eventually ended in a stalemate.
#2 Cheteshwar Pujara - 193 runs
Team India's series wins in the last two series on Australian soil could largely be attributed to Cheteshwar Pujara's batting. The Saurashtra-born cricketer has batted for long hours, took body blows, and tired the Aussie bowlers for other batters to reap rewards.
The highlight of Pujara's last two tours to Australia is the 193 in Sydney during the 2018-19 tour. Despite losing KL Rahul in the second after batting first, India showed no signs of jittery, thanks to Pujara and Mayank Agarwal's steady partnership.
Pujara made the start count with a daddy hundred. The right-handed batter smashed 193 runs, including 22 boundaries, as India went onto post 622/7 before declaring the innings. The Indian bowlers responded well to enforce a follow-on but the match ended in a draw.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar - 241 runs
The Master Blaster is arguably the greatest batter to have donned the Indian jersey in history. His batting made people drool and fans used to leave everything to watch Sachin Tendulkar unfold magic with his magic.
Tendulkar played some of his best innings against Australia and his duel with late Shane Warne was a treat to watch. His best at the SCG came during the 2004 tour when he scored an unbeaten 241 to power his side to a mammoth total.
He and VVS Laxman played with the Aussie attack, making them toil hard throughout two days. Laxman got out for a well-made 178 but Tendulkar brought up a double century. He was unbeaten on 241, smashing 33 boundaries in the process.
The Mumbai-born cricketer also scored an unbeaten 60 in the second essay as the match ended in a draw.
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