Indian Top 10 Batting Analysis of all time
| S No |
W 100 |
Mat# |
Year |
Batsman |
Vs |
Inns |
Runs |
Points |
Match situation |
Result |
Ground |
| 1 |
6 |
1535 |
2001 |
Laxman V.V.S |
Aus |
3 |
281 |
234.8 |
Follow-on 274 behind |
India won by 171 runs |
Eden Gardens, Calcutta |
| 2 |
30 |
1047 |
1986 |
Vengsarkar D.S |
Eng |
3 |
102 |
206.9 |
Leading by 170 |
India won by 279 runs |
Headingley. Leeds |
| 3 |
38 |
752 |
1975 |
Vishwanath G.R |
WI |
1 |
97 |
203.1 |
First Inns |
India won by 100 runs |
M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 4 |
74 |
854 |
1979 |
Gavaskar S.M |
Eng |
4 |
221 |
192.9 |
Chasing 438 |
Match drawn |
Kennington Oval, London |
| 5 |
76 |
1206 |
1992 |
Kapil Dev N |
SA |
3 |
129 |
192.8 |
Trailing by 63 |
SA won by 9 wickets |
Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth |
| 6 |
82 |
895 |
1981 |
Vishwanath G.R |
Aus |
1 |
114 |
191.9 |
First Inns |
India won by 59 runs |
Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| 7 |
88 |
1247 |
1994 |
Azharuddin M |
SL |
2 |
152 |
190.6 |
Facing 199 |
India won by an innings and 17 runs |
Gujarat Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad |
| 8 |
96 |
972 |
1983 |
Gavaskar S.M |
WI |
2 |
236 |
188.2 |
Facing 313 |
Match drawn |
M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| 9 |
108 |
1535 |
2001 |
Dravid R |
Aus |
3 |
180 |
185.5 |
Follow-on 274 behind |
India won by 171 runs |
Eden Gardens, Calcutta |
| 10 |
113 |
632 |
1968 |
Wadekar A.L |
NZ |
2 |
143 |
185.0 |
Facing 186 |
India won by 8 wickets |
Basin Reserve, Wellington |
1. Laxman's 281 against Australia at Calcutta in 2001
This innings is very fresh in everyone's memory, Australia had blown out India a week earlier and was riding on the crest of a 16-match winning streak. India was dismissed for 171 against Australia's imposing 445. Following on, Laxman walked in at 52 for 1. Little did one know that he would walk out at 605 for 5, having played one of the greatest Test match innings ever, possibly the greatest series turning innings in Test match history. He spared no one amongst the quality Australian attack. This was not a defensive, back-to-the-wall innings. Rather it was a counter-attacking innings. He had great support from Rahul Dravid. On the way, he overtook Gavaskar's 18-year record of 236.
It would have been a travesty of justice if India had not won the match. Australia, mesmerized by Harbhajan, duly obliged. Laxman's innings attained more luster and valua and was propelled into the all time top 10 innings ever.
2. Vengsarkar's 102 against England at Leeds in 1986
India, starting the third innings of the match 170 runs in front, had a very bad start slumping to 9 for 2 when Vengsarkar walked in. Soon the situation worsened to 35 for 4. Vengsarkar held one end in an impeccable manner and added valuable runs for the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th wickets. He remained unbeaten on 102, taking India to a match winning total of 237. Even though English bowling attack was none too great, this was Headingley where even Pringle was deadly. The next highest score was 31 by Kapil Dev. India won comfortably in the end.
3. Vishwanath's 97 against West Indies at Madras (Chennai) in 1975
A wonderful innings by the incomparable Vishwanath. This was against the formidable West Indies. The bowling was not at the level reached a few years later. Still very good, led by the incomparable Roberts. India batting first, was 24 for 2 when the master walked in. Soon the score became 117 for 8. Vishwanath was batting like a champion at one end. No one else reached 20. He added an invaluable 73 for the last two wickets. Hsi unbeaten 97 was made out of 166. It turned out to be a low-scoring match and India won by 100 runs.
Vishwanath's classic 97 is the second sub-100 in the all time list, Nourse's match winning 93 in the last innings in 1906, being ahead. This gem is placed ahead of a few 300s and many 200s.
4. Gavaskar's 221 against England at Oval, London in 1979
A modern classic. One of the best chasing innings ever. India was left to score 438 runs to score an unlikely win. Gavaskar, oprning with Chauhan, aded 213 for the first wicket and 153 for the second wicket with Vengsarkar. He was dismissed at 389 for 4. India could not sustain the momentum and finished 8 runs short. Still it was a great result result, a fighting, close draw.
If Gavaskar had taken India to a win, or for that matter, India had won, his 221 would have challenged for a top 5 position in the all time innings list. But that does not take the gloss away from a truly astonishing innings.
5. Kapil Dev's 129 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1992
This is the only innings in the top 10 from the match India lost. India started the third innings with a deficit of 63. Then the collapse came. India slumped to 31 for 6 and the Oval total of 42 looked out of reach. Despite batting with an injured hand, Kapil played one of the greatest of counter attacking innings ever (reminiscent of his own 175 at Tontbridge Wells) and scored 129 in 3 hours. Three batsmen with 17 each provided him decent support. All in vain. South Africa was left to score 155 to win, which they did easily. But Kapil Dev's counter attack would never be forgotten.
The sixth best innings in Vishwanath's 114 against Australia, with very little support, at Melbourne in 1981. This innings set up the 59 run win for India.
The seventh best innings was Azharuddin's 152, made out of 240 runs against Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad in 1994. It was an easy win for India.
The eight best innings was Gavaskar's 236 against West Indies at Madras in 1983. Gavaskar, choosing to bat at No. 4, still had to go at 0 for 2. The match ended in a draw.
The ninth best innings was Dravid's outstanding 180 made against Australia at Calcutta in 2001. This was the perfect support innings to Laxman's epoch-making 281. A great innings by itself.
The tenth best innings was Wadekar's 143 against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in 1986. This excellent innings set up India's first overseas series win.
