5 Best Innings By Indian Batsmen In ICC World Test Championship 2019-21

India has arguably been the most consistent side in the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship final. Ahead of the final of the tournament, the Indian team has topped the points table with 520 points in their kitty. They will face New Zealand to claim the ultimate prize in the longest format of the game. Southampton will host the decider, beginning the 18th of June.

Virat Kohli’s men have produced some of the most memorable batting performances in the World Test Championship. Not only the batsmen have proved their worth at home but also overseas, with the innings being match and career-defining. Hence, it is worth reflecting on some of the best knocks crafted by the Indian cricketers ahead of the finale.

We take a look at five of the best innings played by the Indian batsmen in the 2019-20 ICC World Test Championship:

Rishabh Pant – 97 against Australia:

Rishabh Pant played one of the two masterpiece innings of the Australian tour to keep India in the hunt for the series win. Rishabh Pant arrived early in the crease on the fifth day in Sydney as the tourists needed a mighty effort to save the match. Nathan Lyon had Ajinkya Rahane within five overs on the final day and seemed on fire.

But Rishabh Pant thwarted his plans by not only going after the off-spinner but the rest of the Australian bowlers. The southpaw slammed 97 off 118 deliveries, laced with 12 fours and three sixes and added 148 with Cheteshwar Pujara to put Australia on the backfoot. Later, Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari put a rearguard for the ages as India survived more than 130 overs.

Virat Kohli – 254* vs South Africa:

Indian captain Virat Kohli scored his career-best of 254 in Test cricket against South Africa in Pune as he relentlessly ground down the tourists for five sessions to register a series win. Virat Kohli was only amongst the two players in that match to reach three figures as the 32-year old shared partnerships of 178 and 225 with Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, respectively.

Kohli scored his seventh double ton that match as his 336-ball knock contained 33 fours and two sixes. The right-handed batsman declared the hosts’ innings at 601 and bowled out the Proteas for 275 and 189 in their two innings. Predictably, he earned the man of the match as well in India’s innings and 137-run triumph. India also completed a whitewash by winning the third Test convincingly.

Ravichandran Ashwin – 106 vs England:

After producing a blockathon in Sydney, Ravichandran Ashwin scored his fifth Test century in his home ground against England in the second Test this year. Ravichandran Ashwin’s century was much needed for the hosts to build a lengthy lead to beat England comprehensively and level the four-match series. His 148-ball knock contained 14 fours and a six and added 96 with Virat Kohli.

Ashwin’s innings was significant as it came on a challenging track – one where the English batsmen could hardly bat. Olly Stone dismissed him as the hosts set their opponents more than 400 to win. The 33-year old off-spinner followed his fifer in the first innings to take three more in the fourth as England failed to cross 200 in both innings. His first Test hundred since 2016 and eight wickets, including five in the first innings, were more than enough to earn him the man of the match award.

Rishabh Pant – 89* vs Australia:

Rishabh Pant produced yet another stunning knock on the final day of the fourth Test in Brisbane as India beat Australia at the venue for the first time since 1988. Australia held the upper hand for the most of the day again as they had enough time to close out the game, defending 327 to win the four-match rubber. However, Pant, Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill defied them.

Pant finished with an unbeaten 89, while Pujara and Gill earlier made 56 and 91, respectively, to take the chase deep. Washington Sundar, who struck a fifty of his own in the first innings and added 120 with Shardul Thakur to reduce the deficit significantly, also played an invaluable cameo. The tourists recorded their second successive series win down under with a victory by three wickets.

Rohit Sharma – 161 vs England:

After a deflating batting performance in the first Test against England that lead to India’s 227-run loss, it looked like they would suffer the same fate in the following one. Even though India won a crucial toss in the second Test, Shubman Gill departed without opening his account. Post a promising partnership between Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara, the latter perished, with Virat Kohli following his footsteps as well.

But even as the pitch offered massive assistance to Jack Leach and Moeen Ali – both got rid of Pujara and Kohli, respectively – it seemed like Rohit Sharma was batting on a different track. The right-handed batsman raised a half-century from 47 balls, 100 off 130, and 150 in 208. Sharma smashed 18 fours and two sixes, along with adding 162 with Ajinkya Rahane, before walking back for 161 in 231 deliveries. It was significant in India’s first innings total of 329 as they beat England by 317 runs eventually, thanks to Ravichandran Ashwin’s hundred in the second innings and eight wickets in the match.

Also Read: I Ask MS Dhoni Whenever I Need Any Inputs And He’s Been Kind Enough To Give Me: R Sai Kishore