1. VVS Laxman: 281 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata 2001
Arguably, this is the greatest Test innings by an Indian batsman. Forced to follow-on by a dominant Aussie side that had won 16 Tests on the trot, India rallied around a masterful double century by Laxman. A shell-shocked Australian team went on to lose the match and the series.
2. G Vishwanath: 97* at the Chepauk, Chennai 1975
At 41-4 India were staring down the barrel in the fourth Test, their fantastic victory in Kolkata in the previous Test a distant memory. What’s more, the bowling attack led by an in-form Andy Roberts was spewing venom. Always up for a challenge, the stylish Vishy crafted a brilliant counterattack – hooking, pulling and driving with consummate ease. He almost put the Windies attack to the sword, but eventually ran out of partners and was left stranded on 97. However, his defiance galvanised his team. India won the Test match by 100 runs.
3. V Sehwag: 306 at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan 2004
Only Sehwag could bring up a triple century with a six! For his sheer dominance of the Pakistani bowling attack in a high-profile Test series, Sehwag could walk into any ‘greatest Test innings list’.
4. S Ganguly: 144 at the Gabba, Brisbane 2003
For someone who was so fluent on the offside, Ganguly was often clumsy against pace and bounce. Walking in to bat at 62-3 on a bouncy Brisbane pitch after Australia had scored 323; Ganguly played one of the best innings played by an Indian in Australia. His 144 was an exhibition of courage and self-belief against a team that was out to break him down mentally.
5. S Tendulkar: 241 at the SCG, Sydney, 2004
In the final Test of a memorable Australian tour, Sachin Tendulkar produced his best. His unbeaten 241 helped India set up a huge total (705) and put the match and the series beyond Australia’s grasp.
6. R Dravid: 148 at Headingly, Leeds 2002
India took a huge gamble by electing to bat under overcast conditions on a wicket conducive to swing bowling. The stage was set for Rahul Dravid to produce one of his best (and eventually match-winning) knocks. His century on the first day set the tone for the match.
7. S Tendulkar: 155* at Chepauk, Chennai 1998
Tendulkar has scored a lot of centuries in matches that India would eventually lose. So in that context, his unbeaten 155 in the second innings that helped India stuff Australia stands out.
8. S Gavaskar: 121 at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, 1983
Against a fearsome West Indian attack spearheaded by Malcom Marshall, Gavaskar unleashed a flurry of strokes that stunned the visitors. He quickfire 121 (he reached his 50 in 37 balls) was a stunning display of batting, made all the more credible by the fact that it came against the likes of Marshall and Holding.
9. S Gavaskar: 220 at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain 1971
As a 22-year-old playing his first series against a West Indian team lead by Gary Sobers, Gavaskar scored a double century (220) in the fifth Test to follow up a century (124). Epic stuff!
10. R Dravid: 180 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata 2001
In any other Test match, a 180 score in a follow-on scenario that resulted in a win for your team would mean a Man-of-the-Match award. Though Dravid was only playing second fiddle to Laxman’s magnificent 281, the importance of the Bangalore batsman’s knock cannot be stressed enough.
