Indian cricket team is generally very strong at home. But when it comes to overseas, India’s performance against quality oppositions has traditionally been below par. However, there are a few very good victories that are worth reminiscing. Here we bring you five of the best victories outside the subcontinent that Indians have enjoyed in various continents. While these may not be victories by the biggest of margins, the pressure, the opposition and the situation were considered for this subjective evaluation. Here we look at India’s famous overseas Test victories
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India tour of Australia: at Perth, Jan 16-19, 2008
Backdrop:
Australia was leading 2-0 and this was the third test match of four match test series. The previous game at Sydney was filled with controversial umpiring decisions, tempers flying between players and verbal abuses including the famous ‘monkeygate’ incident. At Perth, which is one of the most bouncy pitches, Australians were clear favourites to win this test match and take this series.
Brief Report:
Anil Kumble won the toss and decided to bat. Riding on Dravid’s 93 and Sachin’s 71, India posted a modest 330. In response, thanks to RP Singh’s good lifters, Australia was dismissed for just 212 with Symonds getting a half-century. In the second inning, Irfan Pathan was promoted to one down after an early wicket.
It was a successful ploy as he had a good stand with Sehwag, himself scoring a brave 46 and India got an impressive second innings total of 294 runs with the help of an assured 79 from VVS Laxman. Chasing a Himalayan target of 413, Australians didn’t surrender meekly as they managed to score a respectable 340 with Micheal Clarke being the top scorer for Australia with 81 runs and Irfan Pathan taking 3 wickets for India.
Man of the match:
IK Pathan for his all-round performance.
Final Series score line:
Australia won the four-match series 2-1.
India tour of England, 3rd Test at Leeds, Aug 22-26, 2002
Backdrop:
England was leading the series 1-0. Indians found it very difficult to get England all out, as the lowest score for which England was dismissed in the previous 2 matches was 487. Headingly pitch was known for producing results. As India was judged to not have enough bowling firepower overseas, England was the favourite.
Brief Report:
Saurav Ganguly won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat first. Indian batters played extremely well and the trio of Dravid, Sachin and Saurav got centuries and India declared at a mammoth 628/8. The spin duo of Kumble and Harbhajan stood up for India during England’s innings and took 3 wickets each and bundled them out for 273. Alex Stuart was playing a lone battle and remained not out on 78. India enforced follow on and Kumble rode on his confidence to take 4 more wickets in second innings. England got all out for 309, with Nasser Hussain (who is an Indian by birth) the highest scorer for hosts at 110. India thus levelled the series.
Man of the match:
Rahul Dravid for his century and excellent slip catching
Final Series score line:
4-match series level 1-1
India tour of South Africa, 1st Test: at Johannesburg, Dec 15-18, 2006
Backdrop:
India has never won a test match in South Africa. New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg is known as ‘Bull-ring’ for providing an intimidating experience for the visitors. The fast bowling department of South Africa had the likes of Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis which can give nightmares to any batsman, leave alone Indians who have been average players of short deliveries.
All eyes were on Saurav Ganguly who was integrated into team after the Chappel fiasco to see how he performs overseas, to see if he has improved his technique.
Brief Report:
Anil Kumble won the toss and decided to bat. Shaun Pollock and Ntini shook the Indian batting order, as India could manage a total of only 249, with Ganguly top scoring at 51 not out. The Indian bowling was even more clinical as Sreesanth grabbed a 5-wicket haul to end the South Africa innings at 84.
Having a healthy lead, India managed to get 236 in the second innings, this time Laxman played a fine innings and getting an individual score of 73. Set a mammoth target of 403, South Africa got all-out for 278, a much improved show compared to their first inning.
Ashwell Prince missed his century by just 3 runs and from Indian side, Sreesanth, Zaheer and Kumble got 3 wickets each. This was India’s first ever test victory in South African soil.
Man of the match:
Sreesanth was adjudged man of the match for his 8 wickets in this test match.
Final Series Score line:
South Africa won the series 2-1.
India tour of West Indies, 3rd Test: at Port of Spain, Apr 7-12, 1976
Backdrop:
West Indies were leading the series 1-0. The West Indies team was really unconquerable during that time and were clear favourites to win this game against India at home and whitewash the series.
Brief Report:
Clive Lloyd won the toss and decided to bat. West Indies posted a good score of 359 on board, with Sir Viv Richards scoring 177 and the captain Clive Llyod scoring 68. BS Chandrasekhar took 6 wickets in this innings and was ably supported by BS Bedi who took 4 wickets.
In response, Indians managed a score of 228 only, with Madan Lal scoring the team’s highest score of 42. Michael Holding was the chief destructor of Indian innings as he ended up taking 6 wickets giving away just 65 runs. In the second innings, West Indies declared after posting 271 runs in order to give their bowlers sufficient time to get India all out. Kallicharan scored a century for Windies in their second inning.
Set a mammoth target of 403, the only question was by how long India will last. However, each of Gavaskar, Amarnath and Viswanath played a gem of an innings to reach the target with just 4 wickets down. Both Sunil Gavaskar and G Viswanath scored a century, while M Amarnath missed it by just 15 runs.
Man of the Match:
G Viswanath was adjudged the man of the match for his batting.
Final series score line:
West Indies won the 4-match test series 2-1.
India tour of Australia, 2nd Test: at Adelaide, Dec 12-16, 2003
Backdrop:
India had not won a test match in Australia for the last 23 years. India’s form under Saurav had been patchy overseas. India played better in England but their play was pitiable in New Zealand and South Africa. The first match of this series was drawn, but there were a lot of positives for India.
Brief Report:
Australia won the toss and chose to bat right away. The batters justified this decision by scoring 556 at a rapid run rate of 4.37 an over. Ricky Ponting scored a brilliant 242 and Australia was all set to score 600 when Kumble stepped in to apply brakes by getting 5 wickets and putting an end to the Australian inning. India, in response were reduced to 85-4, when two of the usual batting pillars stood tall to resurrect the innings.
The two were none other than Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Dravid scored a double hundred and was the last batsman to be dismissed for India having scored 233. VVS also scored an assured 148. When Australia returned for their second innings to set a target for India, Ajit Agarkar was at his lethal best. His swing did all the damage as he ended up taking 6 wickets and was responsible for removing Australia at 196 runs.
The target was 230, but the gravity of the situation made it appear like 400. India proceeded cautiously and once again it was up to ‘The Wall’ to stand up and see India clear the finish line with ease. He top scored for India with a score of 72 and helped India win with six wickets on hand.
Man of the Match:
Rahul Dravid for his excellent knock in both the innings. It is to be noted that he was on the field for the entire match except for 25 overs.
Final Series Score line:
Series drawn 1-1.
