India Test whitewashes: India will look to inflict another whitewash over West Indies in the 2nd Test starting July 20. They returned with similar results four years earlier in the Caribbean. India got the better of Bangladesh with the same margin last year. It was another of their overseas success. All these series though lasted just 2 Tests. India is third on the overall list when it comes to inflicting Test whitewashes over opponents in a series having more than 3 Tests.
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In Part I, We look at India’s first 3 series whitewashes- India Test whitewashes:
#1 India vs England, 1992-93
It was in the 90s that India became a strong force at home. Under Mohammad Azharuddin’s captaincy, India took the spin route to get the better of opponents. India achieved its first-ever whitewash and it seemed like poetic justice as they hammered England 3-0. Azhar led from the front in the first Test winning the Player of the Match award as India registered a comfortable win. His 182 off 197 balls was the difference between the two sides.
It was Sachin Tendulkar’s century that made all the difference in the second Test. He scored a brilliant 165 that ensured India didn’t need to bat twice. Anil Kumble picked up 8 wickets in the Test. The script remained eerily similar in the third Test too. Batting first, England posted a formidable total of 347. In reply, India scored a massive 591 thanks mainly to Vinod Kambli’s 224. They didn’t need to bat again in the Test as Kumble’s 7-wicket match haul trounced the English side. Anil Kumble was awarded the Player of the Series!
#2 India vs Sri Lanka, 1993-94
The Indian team achieved successive whitewashes as they brushed aside Sri Lanka in the 3-match series. India won all the 3 Tests with an innings margin. The matches were played on square turners and contrary to modern times there was no hue and cry over the wickets. Anil Kumble picked 21 wickets to once again top the bowling charts. Azharuddin top scored with 307 runs and was the deserving Player of the Series award winner.
#3 India vs Australia, 2012-13
It is the first and only instance of India whitewashing an opponent in a series comprising four Tests. India spun Australia into submission as a relatively young Indian side outplayed Australia in all three departments. This whitewash signalled Australia had lost its sheen as a cricketing superpower. In the first Test in Chennai, Michael Clarke scored a brilliant century to help Australia post a solid first innings total. India responded strongly with Virat Kohli scoring his second Test ton against Australia. But it was mainly the MS Dhoni show in Chennai.
The Indian captain scored 224 to stun the Aussies. Ravichandran Ashwin and co-completed the formalities. After a relatively close first Test in Chennai, India racked up two comfortable wins in Hyderabad and Mohali. The Delhi Test came down to a second-innings shootout with India handling their nerves better. Ravichandran Ashwin who pocketed 29 wickets in the series was rightfully awarded the Player of the Series.
