Cricket is a wonderful game. Whenever cricket is on it spells magic on me. It is a game of skill, character,mental attitude coupled with physical stamina. In such a wonderful game, batting is the most important part. After all runs are what, that are counted.
Batting in itself is an art. Perfect footwork, elbow position, head position, timing, power and skills personify batting. But the true colour of a batsman is thrown to light only in a Test match. It is while playing a test match that you need more of patience, skill and timing rather than power. In that way there have been many an innings where character had to be shown in a demanding situation. Here are some of the great innings by Indians which I enjoyed most and which surely gave us a treat of excellent batting and magnificent character.
1. V.V.S.Laxman's 281 against Australia(2001):-
The Australians have induced a follow-on. India are one down for a score of 53 in the crucial II test in Calcutta. Still more than 250 runs behind the Australian total and facing defeat. That is when Laxman walks into the crease with a good knock to back him in the I innings. And whow!! Laxman shows what he is made off. The Australian bowlers were smashed all around the park. It was a treat to watch Laxman time those balls to perfection.
Perfect square cuts, dazzling drives,plucking
pulls and lazy leg glances only meant that Laxman was on course for one of the greatest innings in cricketing history. He went on to score 281, the highest by any Indian. What makes this innings special is the situation. Steering India from a follow-on position to a victory, this is the best test innings by an Indian that I've seen. But no credit is taken off from Rahul Dravid and Harbhajan in this test match victory.
2.Sachin Tendulkar's 169 against South Africa(97):-
India's tour of South Africa. After a dismal performance in the first test, India were heading towards another loss in the II test. 53/5 and only Azhar to give Tendulkar company. The South African were firing on all cylinders. What could Tendulkar do?
Well, he counter attacked. The ball flew to all parts of the ground. Runs came thick and fast. I can remember that on an average atleast a boundary was hit in an over. Though Azhar played a crucial role, it was Tendulkar who stole the show. He made a score of 169 in a very quick time before he got out, by a Marvellous catch by Adam Bacher. Though India could not win the match, the sheer grace of the innings has made me place it here.
3. Rahul Dravid's 148 against South Africa(97):-
While Tendulkar sparkled in the second test, Rahul Dravid played superbly in the third test match. Playing in the II innings he gave India a realistic chance of winning the match. He scored 148 batting along with the tail-enders and proved his worth. It was then, that Dravid established himself in the Indian team.
What was special about this knock? Well, not a single chance offered and not a false shot attempted,leave alone playing one. It was a neat and clean as Rahul Dravid stayed ''As cool as a cucumber''<i/> throughout the innings. Wonderful knock.
4.Sourav Ganguly's 131 against England(96):-
Lords 1996. Sourav Ganguly's controversial selection only meant that he had to prove his worth. And he did. That too, at the Mecca of Cricket,Lords. He scored a brilliant 131, on test debut. What an innings!! Those smooth off-drives, superlative cuts and stunning straight drives ensured that he went past the coveted mark easily. With all the gloom around him, he cam up with this superb knock and so,here he is in my list. Surely one of the best I've seen from him.
5.Mohammed Azharuddin's 102 against SA(96):-
South Africa's tour of India 1996. India were heading towards defeat in the Calcutta Test match. Azhar suffering from flu was the last recognised batsman at the crease. Only Kumble to accompany him. Then it all started. Azhar started to pounce on the South African bowlers like a Crouching Tiger.
Especially Klusener was given a bad treatment. Every shot was classy. There was no stopping him. He ended up scoring a 102 of just 78 balls and this knock had everything in it. Flair, grace, power, style and what not. Surely, the South Africans might have had the bitter experience of bowling to a rotating door when Azhar played those amazing leg-drives.
Some special Innings:- Though these were the best five, some innings have a special place in my book.
~ Pravin Amre scored 103 on debut against South Africa in the 92 series in South Africa.
~ Navjot Sidhu scoring 201 in the Trinidad test against West Indies.
~ Vinod Kambli's back-to-back double centuries, 224 and 228 against England in India(1994).
~ Virender Sehwag scoring 105 on debut against SA in SA (2001). He matched Tendulkar for stroke to stroke and proved that he was the one to look out for in the future.
~ V.V.S.Laxman scoring 169 against Australia during India's tour down under in 99. This was an amazing innings where he smashed the Australian bowlers all around the park. Breathtaking innings that.
Last but never the least, I would like to mention a really special innings from the little master, Sachin. This was against Pakistan in Chennai (99) when he suffered from serious back ache. But still chasing a score of 271, Tendulkar held one end up and tried to save the sinking ship, with only Nayan Mongia to give him company. His painstaking knock of 136, though went in vain, was one of his best knocks ever.
This innings is special for me because of Tendulkar's condition then and the Pakistani bowling attack what with Shoaib, Wasim and Saqlain spitting fire. Sachin had to cope up all odds and still he came out with a wonderful and cherishable knock. Great innings. I can only admire his urge to claw out of tight situations,his stamina and his attitude.
But I wouldn't say that these are only best
innings ever by Indians. There have been many an innings by great Players like Lala Amarnath, Vijay Hazare, Vishwantah, Gavaskar and many more, but these were the innings I have watched and enjoyed.
In conclusion, I can only say that Cricket is a wonderful game. An art rather. And these are some of the artists who have kept the spirit of the game alive with some wonderful batting. These moments can be cherished for years to come
