India has didn’t win a Check sequence in England since 2007—when Rahul Dravid’s males pipped the hosts 1-0 in a three-match rubber.
Following that sequence win—India’s third in England and first since 1986—the guests misplaced three sequence in a row (2011, 2014, 2018) within the Previous Blighty. They got here near snapping that shedding streak the final time they toured England, finally drawing a COVID-ravaged five-match sequence 2-2 in 2021-22.
As India’s seek for its first Check sequence triumph in England in 18 years coincides with the start of Shubman Gill’s period as captain, here’s a take a look at the important thing gamers who made the historic win in 2007 attainable.
Anil Kumble (14 wickets & 162 runs)
The legendary spinner’s heroics with the bat, reasonably than with the ball, are remembered extra usually within the context of India’s historic sequence win. Anil Kumble was India’s lone centurion in the course of the sequence, racking up an unbeaten 110 from No. 8 at The Oval to register his solitary Check century. His knock helped India amass 664 within the first innings, making it virtually not possible for England to drag off a series-levelling victory within the third and last Check.
Nonetheless, Kumble’s contribution with the ball can’t be ignored. He was India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the course of the sequence, with 14 scalps, and overshadowed his counterpart Monty Panesar, who solely managed eight wickets in three video games at a median in extra of fifty.
Anil Kumble celebrates his maiden Check century.
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AFP
Anil Kumble celebrates his maiden Check century.
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AFP
Zaheer Khan (18 wickets & 28 runs)
The left-arm seamer was India’s player-of-the-series with 18 wickets at a median of 20.33. Zaheer Khan was instrumental in India’s solitary win within the sequence—a seven-wicket triumph within the second Check at Nottingham—selecting up 9 wickets within the match.
He triggered a collapse early on the opening day of the second Check by prising out Andrew Strauss and skipper Michael Vaughan as England folded for 198. His fifer within the second innings included the wickets of England’s top-six, and Zaheer broke by means of each time an ominous partnership threatened India.
India’s Zaheer Khan (R) claims the wicket of England‘s Alistair Cook dinner as Andrew Strauss watches.
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REUTERS
India’s Zaheer Khan (R) claims the wicket of England‘s Alistair Cook dinner as Andrew Strauss watches.
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REUTERS
MS Dhoni (209 runs & 6 catches)
Dhoni was good behind the stumps however even higher in entrance of them. His unbeaten 159-ball vigil that yielded 76 runs within the second innings had been essential in India managing to attract the primary Check at Lord’s.
Coming in to bat with nearly 50 overs left on the ultimate day and India already 5 down, Dhoni dug deep to sew important alliances with VVS Laxman after which the tail-enders. India finally settled for a draw by the barest of margins, with Dhoni and S. Sreesanth enjoying out 5 overs throughout their last-wicket stand.
Dhoni’s second fifty of the sequence was of a starkly totally different nature—a 92-run assault off simply 81 balls—as India posted 664 to place the match out of England’s grasp at The Oval.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India in motion throughout day 5 of the primary Check match.
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Mahendra Singh Dhoni of India in motion throughout day 5 of the primary Check match.
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Dinesh Karthik (263 runs)
In a lineup comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Dravid and Laxman, Dinesh Karthik emerged as an unlikely linchpin. He was India’s top-scorer, amassing 263 runs at a median of 43.83 whereas doing the hardest job on a Check tour of England—opening the batting.
Karthik and Wasim Jaffer’s profitable opening partnership was key to India’s triumph. They mixed to common 53.67 for the primary wicket, as in comparison with England’s common of 43.33 for the opening stand.
Dinesh Karthik hits a boundary throughout day 5 of the primary Check.
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Dinesh Karthik hits a boundary throughout day 5 of the primary Check.
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Sourav Ganguly (249 runs)
On the comeback path, the fashionable southpaw proved his price by being probably the most constant Indian batter within the sequence. His 249 runs had been solely second to Karthik’s 263. Sourav Ganguly was by no means dismissed for lower than 34 runs throughout six innings, and averaged a powerful 49.80.
Sourav Ganguly of India in motion throughout day three of the second Check match.
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Sourav Ganguly of India in motion throughout day three of the second Check match.
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His prime rating of 79 within the first innings of the second Check was pivotal in permitting India to imagine a match-defining 283-run lead after bowling England out for 198. Although he was anticipated to battle in opposition to the tempo and bounce of the English seamers, Ganguly dealt with them higher than another Indian batter—averaging 53.33 in opposition to the trio of James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom and Chris Tremlett.