Indian Batsmen Who Have Hit Centuries In Both Innings Of A Test Match

Scoring a Test match century is indeed a massive achievement. Batsmen have to display the vigil and determination for hours and hours to get to that elusive three-figure mark. Moreover, it is never easy since the red cherry swings demonically when it is hard and new and under favourable conditions, it is challenging ten-fold.

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But how about the batsmen scoring twin centuries in the same Test? That is undoubtedly a metronomic achievement, especially since the second hundred comes in the latter part of the innings when the pitch becomes challenging to bat on. Yet, there exists plenty of instances when batsmen have reached that feat, including Indians on seven occasions.

We take a look at seven instances when Indian batsmen scored two centuries in the same Test:

Vijay Hazare – 116 & 145 vs Australia

Vijay Hazare’s international career spanned 30 Tests only; however, he made it count entirely. The 30 Tests yielded a tally of 2192 runs with seven centuries at a healthy average of 47.65. The twin centuries of Hazare came in India’s first-ever tour of Australia in 1947-48 at the Adelaide Oval. Even though both the hundreds resulted in a losing cause and an innings defeat, they remain unforgettable.

In reply to Australia’s 674, Vijay Hazare’s 116 and Dattu’s Phadkar’s 123 guided them to a respectable 381. Despite that, the hosts enforced the follow-on, which ushered India to bat again. The Maharashtra-born batsman scored a valiant 145 as his side was bowled out for 277, losing by an innings and 16 runs.

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Ajinkya Rahane – 127 & 100 vs South Africa

Ajinkya Rahane has often been the unsung hero for India and yet been significant to some of their unforgettable Test victories. One such instance arrived in Delhi against South Africa in 2015, having scored twin tons on a pitch that was spitting fire. Rahane’s two centuries in the same Test came when none of the opposing batsmen could score even fifty runs on the deck.

The right-handed batsman’s 127 and 100 in the first and second innings respectively held India from collapsing in a heap. The hosts eventually won the clash by 337 runs, having reduced a defiant Proteas side to 121 and 143 in reply to their 334 and declaring at 267-5. Ajinkya Rahane deservedly won the man of the match award for his performances.

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Virat Kohli – 115 & 141 vs Australia

There existed plenty of highlighting performances from the nail-biting Test in 2014 between Australia and India. There were twin centuries from Virat Kohli and David Warner, Steve Smith’s unbeaten flawless knocks spearheading Australia’s fortunes instead of his injury-stricken captain, Michael Clarke. And then Nathan Lyon’s 12-fer, which deserved and whose performances received him the man of the match award.

But stand-in captain Virat Kohli’s 115 and 141 were the takeaways and were one of the most special knocks that didn’t deserve to go in vain. The visiting skipper had put India on the driver’s seat in pursuit of 364 and if not for the glory shot at mid-wicket, the tourists would have taken the series lead.

Kohli’s wicket led India plummeting down to lose their last three wickets for 11 runs and lose by 48 runs. But it didn’t deter India’s attitude under their future Test captain as this losing effort was the harbinger on their way to being ranked number one in Tests two years later for the next three years.

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Rohit Sharma – 176 & 127 vs South Africa

Rohit Sharma’s promotion to the top-order worked wonders for the Indian Test team as it did for the limited-overs side in 2013. The 33-year old’s chance to bat at the top for the first time in the longest version arrived in October 2019 against South Africa in Vishakhapatnam.

He cashed it thoroughly by reaching the three-figure mark on both the occasions and built an opening partnership of 317 with Mayank Agarwal. After scoring 176 in the first innings, Rohit returned in the second and made 127, which comprised of ten fours and seven sixes. Despite the Proteas’ best efforts, the hosts won the game by 203 runs. Today, Rohit Sharma is amongst the best batsmen in the world in all the formats.

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Rahul Dravid – 190 & 103 vs New Zealand and 110 & 135 vs Pakistan

The Wall of Indian cricket like several occasions carried the hopes of the team with two monumental knocks again in Christchurch against New Zealand in 1999. Rahul Dravid was one of the few batsmen, who held the ability to wear down bowlers constantly. Dravid’s knock of 190 that lasted 354 deliveries in the first innings helped eke out a lead of 50 in the first innings.

Chris Cairns’ knock of 126 at number eight gave the tourists 415 to chase in the fourth innings. The right-handed batsman once again brought his mastery into play. Along with Sourav Ganguly, the 47-year old shepherded the team to safety as India having got to 249-2, the game went in a draw. Dravid and Ganguly remained unbeaten at 103 and 101 respectively.

Once again, it was Rahul Dravid at work against their arch-rivals, Pakistan in Kolkata in 2005. A 222-ball 110 included 15 fours and a six, having been the lone centurion as the hosts reached 407 in their first innings. Despite hundreds from Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf, the neighbours fell 14 short of India’s first innings score.

The Karnataka-born batsman was up to his task in the second innings, vigilant for 283 deliveries this time, scoring 135 runs. Half-centuries from Dinesh Karthik and Sachin Tendulkar helped India set 422 to win for Pakistan. To India’s delight, they emerged victorious comfortably by 195 runs.

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Sunil Gavaskar – 124 & 220 vs West Indies, 111 & 137 vs Pakistan, and 111 & 182* vs West Indies

Sunil Gavaskar is only one of the three players to score centuries in two innings on three occasions. In 1971 in Port Of Spain, Gavaskar scored two of his 13 centuries against the West Indies, including a double-hundred in the second innings. With 124 and 220 in the first and second innings respectively in a drawn Test, the 70-year old was the top scorer for his team.

Once again, the little master was the top-scorer for his team in Karachi against Pakistan in 1978. But this time it was without any other batsman’s substantial innings on both occasions. Opening the innings, Gavaskar scored 111 and 137 in two innings; however, it was Javed Miandad’s 100 and 62 that won the match for Pakistan.

For the second time in 1978, Sunil Gavaskar’s lone 107 was the only highlight in an otherwise India’s dismal batting performance as they made 300 in the first innings. After West Indies took a slender lead of 27, India returned to bat again where Gavaskar scored 182 and Dilip Vengsarkar made 157 to declare at 361-1. However, the game resulted in a draw.

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