Flashback: India’s best overseas wins in recent years

Tags: India, overseas wins, India tour of England, 2014

Published on: Jul 23, 2014

The Lord’s victory was India’s first win at the hallowed venue in 28 years, and their first away from home since 2011.

The Lord’s victory was India’s first win at the hallowed venue in 28 years, and their first away from home since 2011. In view of India’s fantastic performance in the second Test against England, we look back at some of India’s most memorable overseas wins in recent years.


2002 Headingley Test: It was under Sourav Ganguly that India began winning away from home. One of their first successes came against England at Headingley in 2002. India took a brave decision to bat first in the series on a tough surface. Sangar Bangar did the slog work early on to see off the new ball. Rahul Dravid played an equally significant role in the same. Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly went on smash hundreds as India put up a massive first innings total on board. Although England fought hard with the bat, the Indian bowlers had ample to time to bowl England out twice.


2003 Adelaide Test: Undoubtedly, this was among India’s finest overseas wins ever. Australia batted first and notched up 556 courtesy Ricky Ponting’s spectacular double century. India were equally brilliant in reply, Rahul Dravid leading the way with 233 and VVS Laxman contributing 148. Ajit Agarkar then came up with his finest Test spell ever in an otherwise disappointing career. The medium pacer’s career best figures of 6 for 41 kept Australia to under 200 in their second innings. India needed 230 to win the Test, and Dravid once again stood up, remaining unbeaten on 72 as India won the Test by four wickets.


2006 Johannesburg Test: Sreesanth may now be remembered for all the wrong reasons, but back in 2006 he was the next best thing in Indian cricket. India batted first and were restricted to a below par score. Sreesanth however single-handedly blew away the South Africans by moving the ball around viciously as the Protaas had no answer to his probing deliveries. He finished with eight wickets in the match as India registered their maiden Test win in South Africa. This victory was followed by a never-before seen celebration in the Indian dressing room.


2008 Perth Test: There were a lot of negativities going into the Perth Test. India had lost the first Test, and then their loss at Sydney was overshadowed by monkeygate and the umpiring controversies. Against this backdrop, India had a lot to prove as they headed to Perth. And they did exactly that. Rahul Dravid made 93 and Sachin Tendulkar contributed a 70 in India’s first innings to help them compile a fighting total. VVS Laxman chipped in with a crucial 79 in the second innings. It was Irfan Pathan, however, who was the man of the match. He picked up five wickets in the game, and contributed with the bat in both innings.

2010 Durban Test: The 2010 series was a closely contested series. India had been humbled at Centurion, but fought South Africa tooth and nail at Durban. VVS Laxman was the standout contributor in a game where batsmen from both sides struggled. He made 38 and 96 during his two visits to the crease. Thanks to Laxman, the Indian bowlers had enough runs to bowl out South Africa in the fourth innings, to register an unfathomable win at Durban.


--By A Cricket Analyst

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