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KL Rahul tops list of century drought after breaking 8-year-old shackle with WI ton

Soumyajit Dutta

KL Rahul among other legendary batters [Source: Screengrab]KL Rahul among other legendary batters [Source: Screengrab]

Of all the stages for a cricketer, home soil should be the most familiar, a place where the comfort of known conditions often translates into consistent scoring. Yet for some of India's notable names, the wait for a Test century in their own backyard has stretched across surprisingly long and arduous years, as highlighted by the significant gaps between their home hundreds.

This intriguing list is topped by KL Rahul, who endured a gap of nearly nine years, is a testament to the unpredictable journeys even the most talented players can experience in the demanding arena of Test cricket. Let's take a look at the list of all the cricketers who had these long gaps between their two hundreds.

5) Vijay Manjrekar – 5 Years 359 Days

Vijay Manjrekar's near six-year gap between two home Test centuries reflects the era in which he played, marked by fewer home Tests and differing pitch conditions. As a technically sound and dependable batter, Manjrekar was a mainstay in the Indian batting lineup during the 1950s and early 1960s. 

Manjrekar's gap between centuries at home shows the ebb and flow of form and the challenges faced by Indian batters during the early years of Test cricket in India. Despite this long interval, Manjrekar's ability to score 7 centuries well spaced out in his career of 55 Tests and 3208 runs indicates his enduring skill and importance to the team in anchoring innings during crucial moments.

4) Farokh Engineer – 6 Years 54 Days

Farokh Engineer’s gap of 6 years and 54 days between home Test centuries underscores his importance as one of India's premier wicket-keeper batters during the 1960s and early 1970s. Known for his aggressive and stylish batting, Engineer balanced his wicket-keeping duties with crucial contributions as a batter. 

The time gap between his centuries at home points to the sporadic opportunities and tough competition in Indian cricket at the time, when matches were fewer and pitches often challenging. Engineer, however, made only 2 centuries in his 46 Test appearances and made 2611 runs at an average of 31.08.

3) Ravichandran Ashwin – 7 Years 98 Days

Ravichandran Ashwin, primarily known for his brilliant off-spin, also made significant contributions with the bat for India in home Test matches. His gap of 7 years and 98 days between two home centuries is notable, especially for an all-rounder. Ashwin's batting improvements over the years reflect his dedication to becoming a reliable lower-middle-order batter, especially in Tests. 

Ashwin's most significant Test rise with the bat was in 2016, where he impressed with an average of 43.71 from 12 matches. The period saw him develop from a bowling specialist to a genuine all-round contributor, capable of playing crucial innings under pressure. 

2) Mohinder Amarnath – 7 Years 332 Days

Mohinder Amarnath's nearly eight-year gap between two home Test centuries is marked by fierce competition and evolving playing conditions. Amarnath, known for his gritty and determined batting style, was an essential part of India's middle order during the 1970s and early 1980s. 

The premier batting all-rounder had an excellent Test career with 11 centuries to his name, making 4378 runs from 69 matches. His long interval between centuries at home underlines not only fluctuations in form but also the dominance of bowlers in some domestic conditions during that time. Despite this, Amarnath's eventual return to scoring centuries at home served as a reminder of his endurance and technique with the bat.

1) KL Rahul – 8 Years 289 Days

KL Rahul holds the record for the longest gap between two Test centuries at home for India, with an astonishing span of 8 years and 289 days. His first home Test century came early in his career, back in 2016, against England, where he showcased his class. However, after this initial success, Rahul went through a prolonged phase of inconsistency and injury disruptions, which kept him from reaching the three-figure mark at Indian grounds for nearly nine years. 

Rahul's comeback century against the West Indies in the ongoing IND vs WI series is a reminder of his dominance in the whites on home soil. Though it took long, it's better late than never! Nevertheless, the batter scored 100 runs off 197 balls before getting dismissed by Jomel Warrican in the 68th over of the Test.