5 Indian Openers With The Most Test Centuries In SENA Countries

India has produced numerous prolific openers in its cricketing history but not all of them have managed to be as successful at home as in the SENA countries. Facing the new ball in difficult conditions overseas has been the most difficult task for Indian openers.

The swing, pace, and bounce have often troubled them to come good in overseas conditions. Not a lot of openers have great numbers in SENA countries, i.e., in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia.

Having said that, India have also seen some special performances from several Indian openers. There have been occasions when the Indian openers have played well and gone on hit stellar centuries. KL Rahul recently scored a scintillating century against England in the second Test while opening the innings. In this article, here’s a look at most test centuries scored by Indian openers in SENA countries:

5 Indian Openers With The Most Test Centuries In SENA Countries

Ravi Shastri: 3 

The current Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri has 3 centuries to his name in SENA countries as an opener. Ravi Shastri was one of the better all-rounders in Indian cricket. He played for India between 1981 and 1992.

Ravi Shastri has a fantastic record to his name as an opener for India. In 17 matches as an opener, he had scored 2099 runs, including four centuries and one half-century.

He represented India in 80 Tests and 150 One-Day Internationals, scoring 3830 and 3180 runs respectively. He has scored 15 centuries in his international cricket career.

Virender Sehwag: 3 

When it comes to match-winning impact, Virender Sehwag was arguably India’s best opener. He had the ability to tear apart opposition, be it any format. He has a superlative Test career to his name. He has a brilliant record at home as an opener in Test Cricket but he would struggle to dominate in a similar way overseas.

Virender Sehwag, though, had his moments and produced a few great knocks at SENA countries. In his Test cricket career, he has hit three centuries in SENA countries.

Amongst the four countries, Sehwag has the best record against Australia (home and away), scoring 1031 runs in 11 matches at an average of 46.86, including 2 centuries. He struggled the most against New Zealand, against whom he scored 180 runs in 5 games at an average of 20.

Vinod Mankad: 3 centuries

Vinod Mankad is a former Indian player who represented the nation between 1946 and 1959. For the unversed, the term, Mankading is named after him. Vinoo Mankad is best known for running out a batsman “backing up” at the non-striker’s end.

Vinod Mankad opened the batting for India in 44 Tests, scoring 2109 runs at an average of 31.47. Vinod Mankad scored five centuries in Test centuries and three of those came at SENA countries.

Apart from his batting numbers, Vinod Mankad also bowled left-arm orthodox. He was the first Indian cricketer to score 1000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets.

KL Rahul: 

KL Rahul has impressed one and all with his comeback in Test Cricket. The 29-year old has played scintillating knocks in the ongoing Test series against England.

In the second Test of the series,  KL Rahul gave India a great start and went onto hit his sixth Test century. Interestingly, out of those 6 Tests, three have come from SENA countries.

With a great future ahead of him, he would be keen to score more centuries overseas. KL Rahul has played 38 Tests in his Test Cricket Career, scoring 2245 runs at an average of 36.80.

Sunil Gavaskar

The greatest opener to have ever played the game for the Men in Blue, Sunil Gavaskar leads the list with eight centuries to his name. His ability to leave the balls by judging the lines and lengths accurately helped him excel in overseas conditions.

He was as good at home as he was in SENA countries. Sunil Gavaskar had a terrific record against the SENA countries. He has the most number of centuries by any Indian opener in SENA countries with 8 to his name.

At both home and away, Sunil Gavaskar has recorded 5 centuries against Australia, 2 against England, 7 against West Indies, and 1 against New Zealand.