5 Indian Batsmen Whose All ODI Centuries Came In A Losing Cause

A century in a losing cause is always one of the most frustrating aspects that batsmen have to go through. Getting to three figures in a One-day international takes a combination of determination, patience, perseverance, and skilled hitting. The batsmen always have to stay on the top of the bowlers to achieve those magical figures.

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Over the years, several Indian batsmen have accumulated a bunch of centuries in 50-over international cricket. But there are a few unlucky ones, whose all centuries have resulted in a losing cause. While it is a beautiful feeling to notch up an ODI ton, the batsmen would have liked nothing less than a victory:

We take a look at five Indian batsmen whose all ODI career hundreds have come in a losing cause:

Dilip Vengsarkar – 105:

Dilip Vengsarkar’s 129-ODI career from 1976 to 1991 produced just the one century, which came eight years after his debut. It was against the reputed English bowling attack of Neil Foster, Norman Cowans, and Richard Ellison in Pune. Dilip Vengsarkar and Kris Srikkanth were the only two batsmen to pass 50 runs as India managed 214.

But Mike Gatting scored an unbeaten century of his own at number three, steering England to an unlikely victory from 129-6. Vic Marks and Paul Downton chipped in with crucial contributions as England romped home by four wickets. Vengsarkar also played 116 Tests, scoring 6868 runs, averaging 42.13 alongside 17 centuries and 35 fifties.

Sanjay Manjrekar – 105:

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar’s sole ODI hundred came back in 1991 against South Africa in New Delhi. Ravi Shastri and Kris Srikkanth got the hosts to a flourishing opening stand, putting 86 before Peter Kirsten removed Srikkanth for 53. Sanjay Manjrekar and Shastri shared a 175-run partnership that played a significant part in guiding India to 287.

Manjrekar was the last of the four wickets to fall for 105. While India had two centurions in Manjrekar and Shastri, the Proteas had the target achieved without one. Instead, Kepler Wessels, Kirsten and Adrian Kuiper stuck flamboyant half-centuries to ease past the finish line by eight wickets. Jimmy Cook and Wessels were the ones to fall, claimed by Javagal Srinath and Venkatapathy Raju respectively.

Raman Lamba – 102:

Raman Lamba was one of the few cricketers to die on the field due to a ball getting hit on his head. Raman Lamba scored his maiden and only ODI century only in his sixth of 32 games in the format against Australia in Rajkot in 1986. He opened the innings with Kris Srikkanth, compiling a century that lifted India to 260.

Australia hardly broke a sweat in chasing down a formidable total set by India. Dean Jones and skipper Allan Border made fifties while Geoff Marsh, David Boon, and Greg Ritchie chipped with 30s to see the visitors home. In addition to scoring a century, Lamba also took a catch to dismiss Jones off, RP Singh.

Hemang Badani – 100:

Hemang Badani played only 44 games for India of which 40 were ODIs and was a primarily a batsman, who bowled occasionally. Hemang Badani struck his maiden and only ODI hundred in Pune against Australia in 2001. Badani scored a hundred against the likes of Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming, and Nathan Bracken, steering a struggling Indian innings to 248.

But India’s bowlers had no answer to the grace of Mark Waugh, who put 143 with Matthew Hayden for the opening wicket. Waugh remained unbeaten at 133 eventually while Michael Bevan accompanied him to finish the chase, winning by eight wickets and five overs to spare. Mark Waugh also received the man of the match and blindsided Badani’s rescuing knock of 100 by a mile.

Manoj Prabhakar – 106 and 102*:

Manoj Prabhakar remained a reasonably regular fixture in the Indian side across formats until his involvement in spot-fixing forced his ban. While Manoj Prabhakar’s 130 ODIs produced a good 157 wickets but only two centuries off his bat. The 57-year old’s first hundred came against Pakistan in 1987 in Jamshedpur, lifting India to 265. But Javed Miandad’s 78 trumped over it.

Prabhakar’s second hundred came in 1994 in Kanpur against the West Indies, two years before his last international game. Opening the innings, the all-rounder was the only one to make a significant score without receiving support from other batsmen. But despite remaining unbeaten, the hosts fell 46 runs short in pursuit of 257.

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