Team India had a wonderful year in the longest format of the game. From becoming the first team to beat Australia at Gabba since 1988 and winning the border Gavaskar Trophy to 2-1 to reaching the finals of the World Test Championship and winning in England, Virat Kohli & Co has done it all.
The Asian giants have played some dominating cricket on Indian soil and have grown in stature whenever they have played in overseas conditions.
India will look to end their barren run in South Africa that has eluded them for 29 years when they lock horns with the Proteas in a three-match Test series, starting December 3.
With one Test still left in this year, we take a look at the top 3 Test wins by Team India in 2021.
#3 England vs India 2rd Test (Lords)
After a pale draw in the first Test, India were put in to bat by England. Indian Openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul added 126 runs For the opening wicket. India scored 364 runs In the first innings, riding on Rahul’s century.
England, in reply, scored 391 in their first innings banking on a magnificent knock from Joe root (180). For India, Mohammed Siraj took a four-wicket haul. England took the lead of 27 runs in the first innings.
India lost both the openers for 27 runs in their second innings and were reeling at 55/3. Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara build a crucial partnership of 100 Runs with both of them chipping in with crucial fifties.
The match was set for a thrilling finish. Team India managed to post 298 runs after Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s brilliant show with the bat to post a target of 274 to go 1-0 up in the series.
England were eventually bowled out for 121 Runs with Mohammed Siraj scalping four wickets. The team won the Test by a huge margin of 151 Runs going 1-0 in the series.
#2 England vs India 4th Test (The Oval)
After losing the 3rd Test by an innings and 76 Runs, Virat Kohli & Co were desperate to turn the tables. Team India was put to bat by England in the fourth Test.
The visitors lost in-form openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul for 28 Runs. The Indian team was struggling in the seaming and swinging conditions and were all out for 191 runs. Shardul Thakur was the highest scorer for team India with 57 Runs while Chris Woakes picked up 4 wickets.
In reply, England scored 290 Runs with Ollie Pope leading the scoring charts for England while Umesh Yadav picked up 3 wickets, including the wicket of in-form England skipper Joe root.
India 99 Runs behind England and came back with a resounding performance in the second essay. India rode on Rohit Sharma‘s first overseas century to put up 466 Runs on the scoreboard. England was eventually bundled out for 210 runs in pursuit of 368 runs as India went 2-1 up in the series before the series was called due to the COVID-19 scare.
#1 Australia vs India 4th Test (Gabba)
Amid all the player injuries, Team India almost fielded a second-string playing XI for the 4th Test at Gabba. India was forced to play bowling attack with the experience of 7 Test matches.
After opting to bat first against an inexperienced Indian bowling attack, Australia scored 369 runs. Marnus Labuschagne was the top scorer with 108 Runs. Mohammed Siraj, who was only playing his 3rd Test took 5 wickets while Shardul Thakur ended with 4 wickets.
India Scored 396 in the first innings riding on a half-century from Shardul Thakur. Australia managed 294 in their second innings with Smith being the top scorer with 55 Runs. Thakur continued his good form in the match, picking up another four-wicket haul.
With a record 328 runs to win retain the Border-Gavaskar series, India lost Rohit Sharma early in the innings with 18 runs on the board.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill started to build a partnership. They put India on track with individual half-centuries before Rishabh Pant stole the show with a match-winning innings.
The game went into the last hour with Rishabh scoring an unbeaten 89 to break Australia’s dominance at the Gabba.
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