India’s epic Test comebacks during: India’s dream run overseas came to an end with the tour to South Africa in 2010-11. The side did manage to win in West Indies 1-0 but it was no consolation. They won just a single Test overseas in the period between 2011-15. India had a lot of soul-searching to do as they suffered whitewashes in England and Australia. They had lost the bragging rights at home too in 2012 when they went down against England.
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India’s testing times in Tests:
The MS Dhoni-led team was in transition. India’s Fab Four had exited the team at different stages over the last few years. India played spiritedly in South Africa and New Zealand despite losing 1-0 in both series. They were supposed to tour England and Australia later in the cycle.
India’s epic Test comebacks wins during 2014-18:
#1 Lords – 2014
India started the tour on a positive note against England in the first Test on a flat wicket hanging onto a draw. The conditions though were tricky in the second Test at Lords. India batted first and at one stage was 7-145. Ajinkya Rahane played a brilliant hand scoring a century and along with the tail took India to 295. England in reply scored 319 runs. The home team managed a slender 24-run lead.
The madness of an Indian fast bowler:
England required 319 runs to win. On the fifth day, Moeen Ali and Joe Root batted beautifully in the first session. The pair had to see off just one last over. MS Dhoni in an inspired moment asked Ishant Sharma to bowl a bouncer to Ali. The plan worked and India got an opening. Sharma continued with his short ball barrage to dismantle England. India went on to achieve a famous win at Lords!
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#2 Bengaluru – 2017
It was the last series where India was challenged at home. The Border-Gavaskar trophy in 2017 was an exhilarating one. None of the contests were lop-sided with both teams refusing to concede an inch. India had suffered a shock and humiliating defeat at Pune in the first Test. They thought their twin batting failures in Pune were an aberration but India got bowled out for 189 on the first day in the 2nd Test in Bengaluru. Australia raced to 0-40 at the end of day one.
The victory of perseverance:
Indian bowlers turned up spectacularly on day two to restrict the Aussies from running away with the game. The visitors had a lead of 87 but India managed to stay in the hunt. India scored 274 in the second innings to set a target of 188 for Australia. Ravichandran Ashwin stepped up to pick 6 wickets. India levelled the series 1-1 and eventually went on to win the series 2-1.
#3 Johannesburg – 2018
India had squandered the opportunity to win a maiden series in South Africa. They were in with a chance to win both the first two Tests only to lose the big moments. The third Test in Johannesburg was one of the most dangerous surfaces in recent times. India batted bravely to put in 187 runs in the first innings. South Africa barely managed a lead of 7 runs. India put up the only 200+ total in the Test in the third innings scoring 247.
The pitch strangely stopped misbehaving:
India broke through early but the pitch in the fourth innings suddenly went flat. Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla build a solid partnership of 119 runs. Ishant Sharma finally broke the partnership and Indian bowlers hunted like a pack. It was for the first time that India fielded 5 pacers and the result was there for everyone to see. India’s victory at Johannesburg was a sign of things to come!
