India will play a four-match Test series against England at home, with the first Test starting on February 5. This Test series will decide the team that will take on New Zealand in the World Test Championship final.
India vs England Test series has always seen great batting performances. Cricwizz takes a look at top batting performances in India vs England Test series.
1) Graham Gooch’s 333 and 123 in London in 1990
England captain Gooch made India bowlers pay in the London Test in 1990. He first slammed 333 off 485 balls with 43 fours and 3 sixes as England piled up 653/4 declared. If that was not enough, Gooch scored 123 off 113 balls in the second innings to help England set India a target of 472 runs. England won by 247 runs to go 1-0 up in the series. Gooch made a total of 456 runs in the match, 2 more than India’s first innings total of 454.
2) Virat Kohli’s 235 in Mumbai in 2016
India were in trouble at 364/7 looking to overhaul England’s first innings total of 400. But Kohli then found an able partner in Jayant Yadav and the two posted a 245-run partnership for the 8th wicket to take away the game from England. Kohli struck 235 off 340 balls with 25 fours and 1 six. Yadav scored 104. India eventually won the match by an innings and 36 runs.
3) Karun Nair’s 303 not out in Chennai in 2016
Just a few Tests old, Karun Nair became the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to hit a triple ton, but he soon faded out and is out of the national team. But his knock of 303* had class written all over it. With India looking for quick runs to declare the innings, Nair raced to his triple ton from his double ton time in no time as he and Ravindra Jadeja (51) stitched a stand of 138 runs for the 7th wicket in just 19.1 overs. India won the match by an innings and 75 runs, and the series 4-0.
4) Ian Botham’s 208 in London in 1982
The England all-rounder flayed the Indian bowling attack with brilliant innings of 208. He slammed 19 fours and 4 sixes, taking just 226 balls to score 208 as England posted 594. The match ended in a draw, but Botham’s 208 stood out as he scored runs at a strike rate of 92.04 to redefine the art of Test batting.
Cover image courtesy: BCCIofficial
