Top 5 Highest Scores On The Republic Day In Test Cricket
KL Rahul scored 86 on Republic Day (X.com)
India became a republic on the 26th of January, 1950 and since then, India have not only become a dominating team in the sport of cricket but also have produced the greatest cricketers of all time. To name a few, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and a truckload more. For each and every player, representing their nation is the greatest satisfaction and what could be a better occasion than a Republic Day to score runs for the country?
There have been several outings where the Indian players have played some brilliant knocks on this special day and we at OneCricket take a moment to remember the best of knocks along with KL Rahul's special innings in the ongoing Test England on the 75th Republic Day of India.
Let's have a look at the top 5 highest scores in Test cricket on the occasion of Republic Day.
Virat Kohli - 116 Runs vs Australia, Adelaide, 2012
Virat Kohli (X.com)
The greatest batter of the current generation and also on the verge of becoming the greatest batter of all time, Virat Kohli has been one gift to this Indian side. He has scored a truckload of runs in international cricket and has made numerous records with his match-winning performances. He also stands tallest among the players with the highest scores on the Republic Day in Tests.
When the Indian team toured Australia in 2012, Kohli would not have thought that he would become the greatest batter after 10 or 11 years. Being a kid who was on his first tour to Australia went on to smash a hundred in the Adelaide Test on the day when India became a republic in 1950. From that innings, Kohli and Adelaide is a different kind of love story.
Navjot Singh Sidhu - 99 vs Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, 1994
Navjot Singh Sidhu (X.com)
One of the most fearless openers India have ever produced, Navjot Singh Sidhu was impeccable for the Indian team during his playing days. Having scored over 7500 international runs and featuring in 51 Tests for India, he was a part of the transition when India started dominating in overseas conditions.
Back in 1994, India hosted a three-match Test series for Sri Lanka and it was the second Test in Bengaluru, which was around the Republic Day. Having lost Manoj Prabhakar early, Sidhu continued to play the way used to play and smacked 99 runs before he got out to Muralitharan and played over 200 deliveries. He made partnerships with Vinod Kambli and Sachin Tendulkar and eased their way out to a massive first innings score.
Sachin Tendulkar - 96 Runs vs Sri Lanka, Bengaluru, 1994
Sachin Tendulkar (X.com)
In the same game against Sri Lanka, another Indian missed out on the century and it was the god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. After a fabulous innings from Sidhu and Vinod Kambli, India were in a real good position to post a huge total, Sachin did not do anything wrong and went on to play his shots, but eventually got out on 96.
With this 96-run knock on Republic Day, Sachin comes third on the list of players with the highest score in Tests on this special day. With 200 Tests under his belt, Sachin went on to create records which are still yet to be broken. Whether it's the 34,000 international runs or the 100 centuries, he is up there at the top.
MS Dhoni - 89 Runs vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2010
MS Dhoni (X.com)
The Indian team was fortunate enough to have produced a player like MS Dhoni because of what he helped India achieve. Under his captaincy, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and even the 2013 Champions Trophy. He has always been a huge patriot and even announced his retirement on the Independence Day of 2020.
Dhoni comes fourth on the list of players with the highest score in Tests on Republic Day, as he smashed 89 runs in the Test match against Bangladesh in 2010. He made a partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 143 and helped India post a massive first-innings total of 544, eventually winning the game by an innings.
KL Rahul - 86 Runs vs England, Hyderabad, 2023
KL Rahul (X.com)
KL Rahul has been one of a kind for the Indian team, whether you ask him to open, bat in the middle order or even keep the wicket, he has done it all. Also, he has been the occasional captain of the Indian team in the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
In the ongoing first Test against England in Hyderabad, Rahul who recently started batting in the middle order in the longest format, played a composed innings on a tricky surface. Where the batters had to spend time in the middle to get used to the turn and bounce, KL Rahul smacked 86 runs and landed himself into this elite list of players with the highest score on Republic Day.
 "Saksham Chugh")
