Top 5 Knocks By Indian Batters In Australia

Rishabh Pant and Rahul Dravid [Source: @BCCI, @Shy1469/x.com]Rishabh Pant and Rahul Dravid [Source: @BCCI, @Shy1469/x.com]

India’s toughest assignment of the current WTC cycle is up before them. As the Border Gavaskar Trophy draws near, the fans buckle up their belts to see some great and gruelling performances by the players on both sides. 

While we wait for some new chapters to be written in one of the fiercest rivalries of world cricket, let us take a walk back down memory lane. In this article, we take a look at the top five knocks by Indian batters in Australia. These knocks are ranked based on impact, importance and the brilliance displayed by the batters in the respective innings. 

5. Sourav Ganguly - 144 at The Gabba, Brisbane in 2003

This knock by Sourav Ganguly will stay in the history books as one of the best by an Indian captain in overseas conditions. It was the first Test of the series, and batting first, Australia posted a handsome total of 323 in the first innings. 

Sourav Ganguly during the 144 in Brisbane Test [Source: @SarcasticSSJ/x.com]Sourav Ganguly during the 144 in Brisbane Test [Source: @SarcasticSSJ/x.com]

Sourav Ganguly walked out to bat at number five with India under pressure at 62/3. Ganguly scripted a dramatic comeback for his team from this stage along with VVS Laxman (75 off 113). The Indian skipper went on to score 144 runs off 196 deliveries. His innings was decorated with 18 boundaries. Courtesy of his effort, India took a first-innings lead and scored 409 runs. 

Even though the match ended in a draw, the sheer determination and grit shown by Ganguly under pressure to bail the team out of jail finds a spot in this list.

4. Virat Kohli - 141 at Adelaide in 2014

Virat Kohli probably had the best match on debut as an Indian Test captain. In the first Test of the series, Australia put in a mammoth total of 517 with centuries from David Warner, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith.

Virat Kohli during the Adelaide Test [Source: @kohliception/x.com]Virat Kohli during the Adelaide Test [Source: @kohliception/x.com]

In India’s first innings, Kohli scored a flamboyant 115 and took his team close to (444) Australia’s total. In the second innings, Australia scored 290 runs and asked India to chase down 364 runs in the final innings of the game.

Kohli walked out to bat when India were 57/2 in the second innings. From there, the Indian star played a superlative knock, transcending the horizons of brilliance. He scored 141 off 175 deliveries with 16 fours and 1 maximum. However, Kohli’s effort was not enough as the other batters did not show much resilience, and India lost the game by 48 runs. 

3. Sachin Tendulkar - 241 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2004

This knock by the ‘God of Cricket’ will be etched in the history book as one of the greatest Test knocks. Suffering from bad form throughout the series, Sachin Tendulkar walked out in this innings to prove a point to the world. The great man did not play a single cover drive, his favourite shot during his stay of 436 deliveries. The sheer determination shown by Tendulkar while scoring 241 runs has become a fabled tale in Indian cricket. 

Sachin Tendulkar during his epic 241 at SCG [Source: @Priya_srt10/x.com]Sachin Tendulkar during his epic 241 at SCG [Source: @Priya_srt10/x.com]

India posted a mammoth total of 705 in the first innings of the game, and the match ultimately ended in a draw. But the quality, patience and perseverance shown by Sachin during this innings will be hailed forever. 

2. Rahul Dravid - 233 at the Adelaide in 2003

Rahul Dravid is known to be one of India's biggest match-winners when it comes to Test cricket, and this match is proof of why he was given the title. This was the second Test of the series, and batting first, Ricky Ponting’s 242 helped Australia pile up a mammoth 556 in the first innings. 

In reply, Rahul Dravid, along with Australia’s biggest nemesis, VVS Laxman, stood tall. Dravid scored 233 runs off 446 deliveries with 23 fours and a six. Laxman accompanied him brilliantly, scoring 178 runs. The effort by the duo got India to 523, and they just trailed by 33 runs after the first innings.

In the second innings, Ajit Agarkar picked up six wickets, helping India bundle out the home team for 196. In a chase of 230, Rahul Dravid once again played the sheet anchor and scored an unbeaten 72, guiding India to a memorable four-wicket Test match win.

1. Rishabh Pant - 89* at The Gabba, Brisbane in 2021

This match stands as one of the most memorable ones in India’s recent cricketing history. With the series level, Marnus Labushchagne scored a brilliant 108 in the first innings of the game to take Australia to 369.

With some lower-order resilience by Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar, India scored 336 in their first innings. At their second dig of the match, Australia scored 294 runs and gave India a target of 328 to win the match and the series.

Rishabh Pant during the 89 at the Gabba, Brisbane [Source: @Irfan_irru_17/x.com]Rishabh Pant during the 89 at the Gabba, Brisbane [Source: @Irfan_irru_17/x.com]

India started brilliantly, with Shubman Gill scoring a counter-attacking 91. With the platform laid down, Rishabh Pant walked in and played one of the best knocks by an Indian on Australian soil. Pant looked unfazed by the pressure around him and scored his runs with flamboyant brilliance. He remained unbeaten on 89 off 138 deliveries as India won the match by three wickets.

The win will be a memorable one in Indian cricket for more reasons than one. India won a memorable series with this where the side was plagued with injuries and also brought down the fort of Gabba, a venue where Australia have dominated throughout their history.