Three Instances When Tail-enders Emerge as Unsung Heroes for India in Tests

Over the years, Team India came across a lot of memorable victories to register their dominance. They have always been the strong contenders in the limited-overs cricket, but when it comes to a longer version of the game, Indians were still emerging as one of the prime candidates to go a long way in the international set-up. However, tail-enders have been proving a lot in Tests in particular.

Although Indians hasn’t had an excellent record in Test format in those days, they managed to pull out few magical victories and draws respectively out of nowhere against top-notch sides.

However, that required some exceptional performances from the tail-enders of India.

Looking back at three of those matches, we had listed out three top games when lower-order batsmen bailed out India from the precarious situations.

3. India vs New Zealand, 1st Test, 2010, Ahmedabad:

It was the first Test of the series between India and New Zealand at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad. The hosts won the toss and asked the visitors to roll their arms. Justifying the toss, Virender Sehwag started the things in a flash.

The swashbuckling opener smashed Kiwis bowlers to all corners of the park. Sehwag went on to score 173 while the Wall, Rahul Dravid registered a scintillating knock of 104.

However, New Zealanders came back into the game with three wickets on a trot. Meanwhile, it was Harbhajan Singh as one of the tail-enders, who stood up for India by scoring a quickfire 69.

In reply to the chase, Kane Williamson and Jessy Ryder smashed stunning centuries to put Kiwis in a strong position. The second innings saw a tremendous comeback from Kiwis who rattled Indian top-order for a cheap score.

However, it was VVS Laxman and Harbhajan who scored marathon knocks to save the Test for India. Harbhajan Singh smashed 115 runs to bail out India from losing the game.

Kiwis who came to bat during the 3rd session of the final day, scored 22 runs only to draw the game. However, it will remain as one of the greatest match-saving games for India.

2. Ashwin, Jadeja saves India against England at Mohali:

It was the second day of the third Test between India and England at Mohali. Initially, the formidable bowling attack available at India’s arsenal had done their job on the first day and had bowled out England for a meagre total of 283.

In their reply, the hosts, India found itself in a spot of bother after the early wickets. India had lost their sixth wicket with just 204 runs on the board. Then, it was up to the lower batting order to come out and cover up the remaining deficit.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who already had four Test centuries before, needed to stay on the crease with Ravindra Jadeja, who was yet to establish himself as a Test batsman despite a fifty at Lord’s.

The next to follow was the new boy on the block Jayant Yadav, who was playing his second Test. What followed was not something that England bowlers didn’t expect.

The trio added on 210 runs for the team. In the process, Jadeja made his highest score of 90 runs. Jayant recorded his first Test half-century and scored crucial 55 runs. Ashwin also played brilliant innings of 72 runs.

It was the first time in India’s cricketing history that the batsmen at No. 7, no. 8 and No. 9 had all recorded half-centuries respectively. India had taken a healthy lead and eventually, went on to win the match.

1. When magical VVS Laxman & Ishant Sharma scripted a 1-wicket victory:

The enthralling game; Australia’s tour of India in 2010 will always hold a special place in Indian cricket. The Hyderabad-based VVS Laxman and the gutsy Ishant Sharma reached India home by pairing for the final wicket.

Initially, it was the visitors’ captain who won the toss and asked the hosts to roll their arms. Proving the decision right, Shane Watson started the things in a flash in the presence of Ricky Ponting at the other end.

Though Zaheer Khan sent Simon Katich early in the innings, the solid Watson and Ponting stitched a superb 141-run partnership. It required an individual fielding effort from Suresh Raina to break the partnership.

Watson went on to score 126 while the newbie in the team, Tim Paine (92) stood out when Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer rattled middle-order.

In reply, none of the Indian batsmen achieved a century, but the four batsmen got the decent half-centuries to come close to Australia’s 428. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Suresh Raina and Sehwag knocked 98, 77, 86 and 59 respectively.

Taking the 23-run lead, Australia completely lost the plot with seven of their batsmen finishing on a single digit score. It was against Watson who finished as top-scorer for visitors with 56.

In chasing a tally 216, Gambhir and Raina walked for a duck while Dravid and Sehwag scored 13 and 17 respectively. The master blaster failed to convert his start while Dhoni was run-out on 2.

However, it was again VVS Laxman who stood tall for India. He knocked a crucial unbeaten 73* to inch closer to the target and batting with tail-enders haven’t been an easy job.

Though none of the primary batsmen stood with VVS, the lanky Ishant Sharma showed his batting skills by scoring excellent 31 to his name.

Just when things looked easy for India, Ishant was caught LBW by Ben Hilfenhaus. The things were heating in the middle then walked Pragyan Ojha with a helluva of pressure on his shoulders.

Despite experiencing a few hiccups while scoring remaining runs, VVS and Pragyan Ojha guided India home to take the lead. India went on to seal the Test series with the effort from tail-enders as well.