5 Best Test Wins Of Team India In 2021

2021 has been a wonderful year for team India as far as the Test Cricket is concerned. The Virat Kohli and Co. registered some heart-warming wins both at home and in overseas conditions. India outplayed their opponents at home and also fought hard in the toughest nations to compete in world cricket.

This year, India played against England at home and also in their own backyard. At the start of the year, India registered their second Border-Gavaskar series win in Australia. Recently, they whitewashed New Zealand (2-0) at home in the two-match series.

Overall, India played 13 Tests in 2021 and managed to win 7 out of them. They lost 3 Tests this year, including the heart-wrenching one in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. However, apart from that, India showcased brilliant performances throughout the year. With the year almost over, we take a look at India’s 5 best Test wins of Team India in 2021.

5 Best Test Wins Of Team India In 2021

India’s Tour of Australia, 2020-21: Fourth Test at The Gabba

India’s victory against Australia in the fourth Test of the Border Gavaskar Series 2020-21 at The Gabba in Brisbane is counted as one of the best victories India have ever registered in Test Cricket. It’s arguably the best Test win for India in 2021.

Ahead of the fourth and final Test, the series was levelled at 1-1. Australia were obviously the favourite to win the last Test at Gabba, keeping in mind their outstanding record at the stadium. Australia never lost a Test match at The Gabba for 32 years. However, a determined Indian team created history after beating the Aussies at the very stadium by 3 wickets and thereby winning the series by a 2-1 margin.

India were playing the Test match without the services of Virat Kohli, Ashwin, Bumrah, Shami and Jadeja. Yet they managed to not only produce a fight but went on to win the Test. Riding on a century from Labuschagne, Australia posted a good-looking score of 369 runs in the first innings. India too batted brilliantly and finished their innings at 336, with vital contributions coming from Rohit Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Shardul Thakur to name a few.

India then bundled out Australia for 294 runs, thanks to sensational spells from Mohammad Siraj and Shardul Thakur. India needed a mammoth 328 runs on the final day to win the Test. Perhaps, nobody expected the way India batted on the last day of the tour.

Shubman Gill scored 91 off 146, while Pujara batted 146 deliveries for his 56. However, the one who made India believe that they can win the Test was Rishabh Pant. The southpaw ensured he mix caution with aggression and stayed right till the end. He went on to score an unbeaten 89 off 138 and guided his team to a seven-wicket win in the end.

India tour of England, 2nd Test at The Lord’s

Winning a Test match at the Lord’s Cricket Ground against England hasn’t been easy. But for a team who has made a habit of winning Tests overseas, it wasn’t impossible. India batted first in the second Test and posted a 364-run total in the first innings.

Rohit Sharma (83 off 145) and KL Rahul (129 off 250) set the tone for the win as the duo compiled a 126-run partnership for the opening wicket. England too gave a strong reply with the bat as they managed to score 391 runs in the second innings.

Joe Root led the way with the bat as he scored a sensational knock of 180 runs off 321 deliveries. England took 8 wickets for 209 runs when India batted again. However, an unbeaten 89-run partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami propelled the total to 298.

Shami scored an unbeaten 56 off 70, while Bumrah contributed 34 off 64. The partnership gave India a chance of winning the game. India only had 60 overs to bundle out England. The seamers bowled their hearts out and eventually bowled England out for just 120 with 8 overs left in the game.

India Tour of England, 4th Test in Kennington Oval, London

India didn’t start the fourth Test on a great note against England in London. Virat Kohli and Shardul Thakur scored the fifties but there was little contribution from the other batsmen as India were bundled out for just 191 runs in the first innings.

The bowlers, however, were once again outstanding. A combined bowling effort helped India bowl England out for 290 runs in the second innings. India needed a strong start to put a good total on the board.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul ensured India of that. The duo stitched another valuable 82-run stand to lay the foundation for a big score. Rohit Sharma played an outstanding 127-run knock off 256 balls.

The likes of Virat Kohli (44), Pujara (61), Pant (50), Thakur (60) also made vital contributions as India posted a mammoth 466-run total. England never looked like chasing down such a huge target and eventually were bundled out for 210 runs. India won that game by 157 runs and took 2-1 lead in the series.

England’s Tour of India, 2nd Test at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai

India didn’t start the five-match home Test series against England on a bright note. They lost the very first Test by 227 runs to hand England a 1-0 lead in the series. India were under the pump and needed to showcase a solid performance to make a comeback.

Once again, it was Rohit Sharma who stepped up with the bat and set the foundation for a remarkable comeback in the series. He produced one of the finest knocks of his Test cricket career, scoring 161 runs off 231 balls, including 18 fours and 2 sixes. India scored 329 in the first innings.

England then succumbed to a superb spin bowling display from Ashwin and Axar as they were bowled out for just 134 innings. Ashwin picked a five-for, while Axar Patel picked two.

India batted again and scored 286 runs only to make things even more difficult for the visitors. Spinners, once again, spun a web around the opposition as England could only manage to score 164 runs, thereby losing the game by 317 runs.

New Zealand tour of India, 2nd Test at Wankhede Stadium

India played the final Test of the year 2021 against New Zealand at Wankhede Cricket Stadium from 3^rd December to 6^th December 2021. It was also the final Test of the two-match series and India won it by a big margin of 372 runs. With that win, India also registered its 14^th consecutive Test series win in India.

Virat Kohli and Co. exhibited a telling performance from both bat and ball and outclassed Blackcaps in all departments. Opener Mayank Agarwal showcased great grit and determination to score a sensational 150-run knock in the first innings. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals, Mayank held firm at one end and took India to 325 in the first innings. New Zealand batters showed little application with the bat in the second innings and were bundled out for just 62 runs.

With a lot of time in hand, India opted not to enforce the follow-on and batted again. Mayank Agarwal yet again produced a stellar 62-run knock, while Shubman Gill (47 off 75), Cheteshwar Pujara (47 off 97), Virat Kohli (36 off 84) and Axar Patel (41 off 26) also made notable contributions. India declared their innings at 276 for 7 after batting for 70 overs and thereby set a target of 540 runs for New Zealand to win the game.

Daryl Mitchell (60 off 92) and Henry Nicholls (44 off 111) were the only two batsmen who showed some resistance with the bat but it was never going to be enough. New Zealand, as a result, lost the game by a huge margin of 372 runs. For those of you who don’t know, it is also the largest victory for India by runs in Test Cricket at home.