Top 10 innings by Indian batsmen in South Africa ahead of the first Test between India and South Africa in Centurion.
The Indian cricket team began the year 2021 on a high note, winning a historic Test series in Australia, and 11 months later, they will have the chance to end it on a good note when they face South Africa in the first Test in Centurion, which will begin on Boxing Day.
South Africa has never been a comfortable hunting ground for India – three wins in seven series illustrate the country’s problems – but that doesn’t mean that individual performances have been lacking.
In fact, some of India’s most illustrious individual batting performances have made their way to South Africa.
From Kapil Dev’s blitzkrieg in 1992 to Rahul Dravid’s gritty first Test century in 1997, from Sachin Tendulkar’s mastery the same year to Virat Kohli‘s genius 16 years later, India has produced some thrilling individual batting performances.
We take a look at the top 10 innings that stand out ahead of the first Test in Centurion
1. Kapil Dev – 129 in 1992/93 at Port Elizabeth
The first-ever Test series between India and South Africa took place in 1992/93, and despite the hosts winning 1-0, India put in a brave performance.
2. Sachin Tendulkar – 169 in 1996/97 in Cape Town
Tendulkar had already established himself as India’s batting backbone by the time 1996/97 rolled around.
3. Mohammad Azharuddin – 115 in 1996/97 at Cape Town
Because of Tendulkar’s epic in the Cape Town Test in 1997, Azharuddin’s magnificent 115 goes mostly overlooked, but it was the former India captain’s unorthodox and attacking attitude that took South Africa off guard.
4. Rahul Dravid (Wanderers, 1996/97) – 148
The lone game India drew on the tour was the third Test at the Wanderers, where a teenage Rahul Dravid made his international debut with a blistering century.
5. Virender Sehwag – 101 in Bloemfontein in 2001/02
Virender Sehwag hit a century for the ages on his Test debut, batting at No. 6, against a South African bowling unit that included Shaun Pollock, Nantie Hayward, Makhaya Ntini, Jacques Kallis, and Lance Klusener.
6. Sourav Ganguly (Johannesburg, 2006/07) – 51*
In December 2006, when India toured South Africa, Ganguly found himself at a crossroads in his career.
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7. VVS Laxman – 96 in Durban 2010/11
VVS Laxman, the master of the second innings, was instrumental in India’s sole second Test victory in South Africa, in the 2010/11 tour’s second Test at Durban.
8. Cheteshwar Pujara – 153 in Johannesburg, 2013/14
Cheteshwar Pujara was a rock for India in the second innings in Johannesburg during his second visit of South Africa.
9. Virat Kohli – 119 in the 2013/14 season in Johannesburg
If Pujara had taken Dravid’s place, Kohli would have had big shoes to fill as well, since the India batsman came out to play at No. 4, the same spot where Tendulkar used to bat.
10. Ajinkya Rahane – 48 in Johannesburg 2017/18
After being blown out in the first two Tests of the 2017/2018 tour, India’s final encounter in Johannesburg was all about playing for dignity.
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