5 Instances When Indian Players Scored Century And Took Five-For In A Test Match

All-rounders have always been essential in building a strong team as they provide the perfect balance in the batting and bowling departments. To have a player that can score a century and take five wickets is a dream for any coach and captain. They are the perfect foil needed and play an important part, especially on away tours.

It is an extraordinary feat for an all-rounder to score a century and take a fifer in the same Test. The team will also be happy with the performances of the player in both departments giving him a lot of confidence.

Here are five instances when Indian players scored a hundred and also went on to take a fifer in a Test match proving the importance of all-rounders in the game:

Vinoo Mankad vs England, 1952

Vinoo Mankad, famous for his ‘mankading’ incident was in absolute best against England in 1952 with 72 runs in the first innings and continued his rich vein of form by bringing up a fine 184 at the top of the order in the second innings to follow up his five-wicket haul at an economy rate of 2.68 in the first innings. His efforts could not get India over the line as India lost by eight wickets against the Sir Leonard Hutton-led England side.

Polly Umrigar vs West Indies, 1962

Polly Umrigar was in fine form as he scored 56 runs in the first innings and notched up an unbeaten century of 172 runs in the second innings against West Indies in 1962 alongside picking up five wickets for 107 runs in the 24 overs he managed to bowl in the first innings.  Despite His excellent performances from both bat and ball, India went on to lose the match by seven wickets.

Ravichandran Ashwin vs West Indies, 2011

Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest match-winners India has produced in Tests and he showed the world his all-round abilities in 2011 against West Indies scoring a brilliant century of 103 in the first innings after taking a five-wicket haul in the first innings. His efforts lasted only for a draw though but instilled a lot of faith in the captain about his batting skills.

Ravichandran Ashwin vs West Indies, 2016

Ashwin has always been a useful all-rounder as he achieved a rare feat for the second time against the same opponent to score a superb century of 113 runs in the first innings and backed it up with seven wickets in the second innings to clinch victory for India by an innings and 92 runs in 2016 against West Indies at North Sound.

Ravichandran Ashwin vs England, 2021

On a turning track at Chennai, Ashwin ran through the England batting order in the first innings to claim a fifer and backed it with an unbelievable century in the second innings when all the other Indian batsman failed to get bat to ball. This was the most important hundred for him in very tough conditions for a batsman, and the home crowd was in huge praise of the all-rounder.

Ashwin has already taken 6 wickets in the ongoing test match against England and it will be interesting to see if he can take a ten-wicket haul in the test apart from his heroics with the bat. India has the upper hand in the Test and England has a massive task ahead.