Top Five Turnarounds Registered By Team India in Test Cricket

The beauty of Test cricket lies in its turnarounds. Well, it is too complicated to be a Team India fan especially when it comes to overseas story. Most of the Asian teams face the heat outside Asia and vice-versa which has been a pale shadow in the longest format.

Sticking with the Indian cricket, no doubt Men in Blue has made us proud on various occasions, but they have dashed our hopes with their horrible performance as well at times.

One such horrible performance came recently against England at the Mecca of Cricket, Lord’s. England bundled India on 107 while batting first.

There is no doubt that there were unfavourable conditions for the batting but such more mediocre performances are unacceptable.

It is too much difficult for a team to make a comeback in Test cricket after getting bundled on a paltry total.

Despite this, there are various occasions when a team made a fantastic comeback after being bowled out on a paltry score.

To keep our hopes beliefs in the brighter side, let us now have a look at five turnarounds in Indian cricket history when the team came back from behind.

Indian Team vs Australia ( March 2001):

All hail to the two stalwarts of Test Cricket, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid who made this possible. The famous Kolkata Test of 2001 holds a special place in Indian Test cricket history.

After scoring a pile of 445 runs in the first innings, India could only amass 171 in reply. After watching such a poor display, Australia skipper asked India to bat again while enforcing the follow-on.

In the second innings, India lost quick wickets, and a massive defeat was on the cards. However, Laxman alongside Rahul Dravid added 376 runs partnership for the fifth wicket stand.

This partnership turned the tables, and it blew Australia out of the dominating position.

With the help of 281 from Laxman and 180 from Dravid, Indian skipper announced the declaration while reaching to the mark of 657 for the loss of seven wickets. Australia was chasing a total of 384.

Harbhajan Singh revealed his mystery and Australian players appear helpless before him. He got six wickets while leaking just 73 runs.

Harbhajan was well supported by Sachin Tendulkar, who wrapped up with the figures 11-3-31-3. India bowled Australia on 212 that gave a famous win by 171.

India vs England (August 1979):

This Test match is something special for Sunil Gavaskar. He was the only man who fought bravely after England bowlers ran through India’s batting order. India got bowled out on mere 96 with the help of 46 from Gavaskar.

In reply to it, England announced declaration after putting a mammoth score of 419 for the loss of nine wickets.

Indian batting maestros Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanath went on to set a base. After getting individual centuries, they took Test match into the final day.

Vishwanath consumed 337 deliveries for his 113 While Vengsarkar took 295 deliveries for his 103. Also, it helped India to draw the game

India vs Australia ( November 2004):

The people of Mumbai witnessed this remarkable turnaround. It was the fourth Test of the series between India and Australia. Australia bowled out India on a mere score of 104 within 42 overs.

Apart from Rahul Dravid, who scored 31 off 113 deliveries, no other batsman showed dominance. In reply, Australia got a 99 lead after amassing 203 runs.

After a fabulous partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, India fell like a pack of cards as they once again met with a sudden collapse. India fell on reaching the mark of 205.

Australia finds themselves short of 13 runs while chasing a low total of 107.

Harbhajan Singh took a five-for in the second innings and dismantled Australia. Murali Kartik finished the match with figures of seven for 76 and got Man of the Match award for his performance.

India vs West Indies ( March 1983):

This famous 1983 Test match took place at Port of Spain. Hosts Windies after winning the toss decided to bowl first. With the help of five-for from Malcolm Marshal, Windies bowled out India on 175.

The Caribbean team in return put a total of 394 with the help of twin centuries from Larry Gomes and Clive Llyod.

India spotted its mistakes in a jiffy and put a high spirited performance in the second innings. Mohinder Amarnath 117 runs off 345 deliveries, and Kapil Dev enrolled a fantastic 95-ball hundred in leading India to a score of 469 for seven on the fifth day. This match ended at a draw.

Indian Team vs South Africa ( January 2018):

South Africa found themselves in hot waters when they had to chase a total of 247 on a green top wicket of Johannesburg.

Team India could only manage to get a total of 187 in the first inning all thanks to the Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli. Moreover, Test cricket had often thrown the challenges at the batsmen before like this five turnarounds did the trick.

In reply to it, South Africa got a lead of seven runs as India bowled out them on 194.

In the second essay, with the help of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Mohammed Shami, India put a target of 247. While chasing it, the Proteas could only get 241.