Five Indian Batsman Who Average More In Other Countries Than At Home

There is a reason why Test cricket is hailed as the toughest format. That is because it is the only format that tests a cricketers’ character, attitude, and more importantly his ability to adjust himself into different conditions around the world to the hilt.

Almost every batsman thrives in home conditions but it is his exploits in overseas conditions that really establishes his credentials as the potentially great batsman. We have a plethora of batsmen around the world who average in the high 40s or even 50s while playing at home but when it comes to batting away from home, their average and performances drop significantly.

But that is not the case with the very best in the game, who tend to thrive more when faced with obscure conditions than at home.

Here’s a look at five Indian batsmen who averaged more in Test cricket while batting away from home than in their own country:

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Ajinkya Rahane

Home- 39.28, Away- 45.16

One of the select group of cricketers who find comfort in obscure conditions more than home is the current Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Rahane, who made his Test debut against Australia in Delhi in 2013, was India’s best batsman in the 2013-15 overseas cycle. While he missed out on scoring his debut ton in Durban in early 2014, Rahane went on to register three-figure scores in Wellington, Lord’s, and Melbourne in the same year to impinge himself as India’s best batsman in overseas conditions.

Rahane, however, went through a consistent decline in his fortunes during the extended home season in 2016-17. The Indian vice-captain averages just 39.28 in the 27 Tests that he has played at home, as compared to his average of 45.16 [2710 runs with seven hundreds in 38 Tests] in obscure conditions.

Mohinder Amarnath

Home- 30.44, Away- 51.86

Another player who thrived in overseas conditions more as compared to the home comforts was Mohinder Amarnath.

Amarnath played 37 Tests in overseas conditions, racking up 3008 runs at an average of 51.86, including 9 hundreds and 17 half-centuries, a starc contrast when you compare it with home average- 30.44 in 32 Tests (1370 runs with just two centuries).

Amarnath was always at his lethal best against the mighty West Indies in their own den, averaging 54.81 [877 runs with two hundred]. He averaged 57.06 in Pakistan [836 runs in 11 Tests with four centuries], 55.66 in Australia [668 runs in 8 Tests with two centuries], 30.42 in England [213 runs in 4 Tests].

Rahul Dravid

Home- 51.36, Away- 53.16

One of the greatest ever batsman to have ever played the game, Rahul ‘The Wall’ Dravid was an all-weather man for India during his career. Whether it was turning track in the sub-continent or seaming-swinging conditions of New Zealand and England or bouncy tracks of Australia, Dravid was always equal to the task as India’s quintessential No.3

The former Indian captain played 93 Tests away from home, in which he racked up 7667 runs at an average of 53.61, including 21 hundred and 36 half-centuries. His match-winning knocks of 148 at Leeds [2002], 233 & 72 at the Adelaide Oval in 2003, his career-best 270 in Rawalpindi against Pakistan or his gritty half-century at Jamaica that helped India win the series in West Indies after 35 years are some of the many examples of how Dravid was the spearhead in India’s greatest overseas moments in the past two decades.

When it comes to performing in overseas conditions, the Indian Wall averaged 65.69 in the West Indies [1511 runs in 17 Tests with three centuries], 43.96 in Australia [1143 runs in 1 Tests with one century], 68.80 in England [1376 runs in 13 Tests with six centuries], 63.83 in New Zealand [766 runs in 7 Tests with two centuries] and it was only in South Africa where he relatively struggled- 624 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 29.71 with one century.

When it comes to Indian conditions, Dravid featured in 70 Tests, racking up 5598 runs at an average of 51.35 with 15 centuries and 27 half-centuries.

Sunil Gavaskar

Home- 50.16, Away- 52.11

The original ‘Little Master’ Sunil Gavaskar announced himself on the international stage by scoring a barely believable 774 runs in the four-match Test series in 1971 against the West Indies.

The former Indian captain was prolific across all conditions. While he averaged 50.16 in 65 home Tests [5067 runs with 16 centuries], he fared even better away from home, where he averaged 52.11 [5055 runs in 60 Tests with 18 centuries].

The ‘Little Master’ averaged 70.20 in West Indies [1404 runs in 13 Tests with seven centuries], 51.11 in Australia [920 runs in 11 Tests with five centuries], 58.88 in Pakistan [1001 runs in 11 Tests with three centuries], 43.55 in New Zealand [392 runs in 6 Tests with one century] and 41.14 in England [1152 runs in 16 Tests with two centuries].

Sachin Tendulkar

Home- 52.67, Away- 54.74

Seaming conditions? Check. Pacy wicket? Check. Track with uneven bounce? Check. Turning tracks? Check. Check. Check.

Sachin Tendulkar, during his celebrated 24-year-old career, ticked all the boxes required to become a world-class batsman. And, he did that pretty early in his career. Before he turned 21, Sachin had Test tons in England [1990], Australia [two- one in Sydney and then in Perth in 1991-92] and South Africa [1992].

Tendulkar continued his consistency throughout his career and across all conditions. He played 94 Tests at home, scoring 7216 runs at an average of 52.67 with 22 hundreds and 32 fifties. When it came to conditions away from home, Tendulkar scored 8705 runs in 106 matches at an average of 54.74 with 29 centuries.

The Master Blaster averaged 47.69 in the West Indies [620 runs in 10 Tests with one centuru], 53.20 in Australia [1809 runs in 20 Tests with six centuries], 40.25 in Pakistan [483 runs in 10 Tests with one century], 49.52 in New Zealand [842 runs in 11 Tests with two centuries], 54.31 in England [1575 runs in 17 Tests with four centuries] and 46.44 in South Africa [1161 runs in 15 Tests with five centuries].

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