Although the Men in Blue are yet to win a single Test series in South Africa, this is perhaps our best chance. KL Rahul has already set the tone in the first test but over the years, other Indian batters have delivered some memorable batting performances against the Proteas. Greats such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and VVS Laxman have all mastered the bouncy conditions in South Africa, and into India’s three-match Test series against Dean Elgar’s side, we look back at some of the best knocks by Indians in the Rainbow Nation.
5. Virat Kohli – 119 (181), Johannesburg 2013
In India’s first Test after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli assumed the mantle of his cricketing idol with a wonderful knock of 119 against South Africa from number four. The right-hander walked in at 24-2 and played some wonderful counter-attacking strokes against the likes of Steyn, Philander and Morkel. Kohli was a class apart compared to his teammates on the day, and this fighting knock prevented a first-innings collapse to help India earn a famous draw away from home.
4. Rahul Dravid – 148 (362), Johannesburg 1997
After missing out on a debut ton at Lord’s, Rahul Dravid registered his maiden Test century in Johannesburg in India’s second tour to South Africa in 1996-97. In the 3rd Test, Dravid displayed his tremendous discipline and grit to score an outstanding first-innings century against a bowling attack that consisted of Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Brian McMillan. Dravid’s innings of 148 lasted over nine hours, with the number three playing an insurmountable 362 balls to grind the South African bowlers into the dirt and help India finish with a first innings score of 410.
3. Sachin Tendulkar – 146 (314), Cape Town 2011
Sachin Tendulkar’s 51st and final Test century may go down as one of the most iconic innings of his storied career in red-ball cricket. Facing one of the deadliest pacers of his generation at the peak of his powers, Sachin engaged in a battle of the ages with Dale Steyn after walking in at 28 for two. Batting outside his crease, Tendulkar showed tremendous discipline against the moving ball, batting with a strike rate of below 40 for the majority of his innings. Tendulkar shared a crucial 176-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir before batting alongside the tail to give India a two-run first-innings lead.
2. Virat Kohli – 153 (217), Centurion 2018
Virat Kohli enjoyed a golden run in Tests in 2018 that started with a stunning century versus South Africa at Centurion against a pace attack consisting of Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. Kohli walked in at 28 for two in extremely tricky conditions but took the attack to the opposition with a sublime knock of 153 of 217 balls as he scored nearly half of India’s runs in the innings.
1. VVS Laxman – 96 (171), Durban 2010
VVS Laxman set up one of India’s most notable victories away from home with his sublime knock in the boxing day Test in 2010. After top-scoring in the first innings with 38, Laxman walked in with India in a precarious position at 56 for 4 in their second innings. In conditions tailor-made for fast bowling, Laxman delivered a batting exhibition, scoring 96 runs of the highest quality alongside the tail to help India set South Africa a formidable target of 303 to chase.
Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth picked up three wickets apiece to clean up the visitors for 215, but it was Laxman’s rescue effort with the bat that eventually proved to be the defining contribution in India’s second Test win in the Rainbow Nation.
[Featured Image Credit: Indian Cricket Team]
Shivaan Shah