India has typically looked strong at home in the past decade. The presence of spinners like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Karthik, Pragyan Ojha back then, and Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja now has made life toilsome for the visiting teams. Apart from them, a strong batting order capable of dismantling opposition bowlers also has played a huge part.
But, sometimes, all these combinations fail as the tourists’ channel all their intent and focus on turning the tide on India. The result, India has from time to time, has been handed unexpected defeats, especially in circumstances when they were total favourites.
2nd Test v South Africa, Ahmedabad, 2008
It was one of the most famous and dominating wins South Africa ever secured in India. The Proteas commenced the series with a high scoring draw at Chennai. But, despite the strong showing with the bat, South Africa wasn’t expected to stand again India at Ahmedabad in the second Test. But as it turned out, the pitch with a grassy layer on it, turned out to be completely suitable for the South African bowlers make batting nightmarish for India. The hosts looked underprepared for such sort of attack from Steyn and Co and were rolled over for just 76 in the first innings. Steyn, Morkel and Ntini loved the bounce and movement off the pitch and ended up with three wickets each to their name. South Africa then produced a batting masterclass for the Indians and piled on 494 in reply. The lead of 418 runs eventually turned out to be more than enough for Proteas to win as India, despite improving their batting standards, could manage just 328 in the second innings. Thus, inflicting a loss by an innings and 90 runs.
3rd Test v West Indies, December 1994
The Courtney Walsh-led side produced a memorable performance when the met India at the PCA Stadium, Mohali. The venue, for long, has been a sort of home away from home for the countries with strong fast bowling background. And, the 3rd Test serves as an example for the fact. The visitors were in a must win situation to after being 0-1 down in the three-match series. Luck favoured their cause initially as Walsh won the flip of the coin and chose to bat first. The decision proved good as Jimmy Adams slammed 174 and powered West Indies to 443 in the first Innings. Opener Manoj Prabhakar led India’s reply with a 120 run knock but the rest of the batting order failed to convert their starts, resulting in the batting side managing just 387 in reply. Windies had secured a 56-run lead and capitalised on it by piling on 301/3 in just 56.3 overs to set a 357 runs target for India to win the series. India was expected to save the Test after having finished day 4 at 37/1. However, West Indies fast bowling battery ensured a short work of the India batting order and cut short their match saving bid completely. Kenny Benjamin (5/65) and Walsh (3/34) bowled them out for just 114 runs as the tourists won the match by a mammoth 243 runs margin.
1st Test v Australia, Mumbai 2001
Australia packed off India within three days when both teams met at the Wankhede Stadium to play the opening Test of the 3 match Test series. Once again, it was substandard batting display that dug the grave for the hosts. After being into bat first, India was restricted to just 176. Australia gave a strong reply by adding 349 on the board with Mathew Hayden and Gilchrist blazing their ways to entertaining centuries. The task to save the game now rested in the hands of the batsman as India were now supposed to set a target by overhauling the tourist’s lead of 173. They had over two days to do so but the batting was mediocre yet again as they bundled out for just 219 runs. Australia was required to chase just 47 runs which they did with 10 wickets in hands. Adam Gilchrist was chosen as the Man of the Match for his batting show.
2nd Test v England, Mumbai 2012
The spinning duo of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann gave a ride shock to the Indian as they demolished the Indian batting order single-handedly. India had taken a 1-0 lead with a convincing 9 wicket win over the visitors in the first Test at Ahmedabad. The hosts were expected to dominate them in the same way for the rest of the series, at least according to the home fans. However, that didn’t happen as India slipped to an embarrassing 10 wicket loss. After posting 327 in the first innings, the Indian spinners failed to contain Alastair Cook (122) and Kevin Pietersen (186) from helping England gain a 86 runs lead. Swann and Panesar then turned the limelight on them and snapped 4/43 and 6/81 respectively to bundle out India for just 142 and setting themselves an easy target of 57 runs. Cook and Compton faced no issued in completing the formalities.
2nd Test v South Africa, Bangalore 2000
South Africa put up a superlative effort to dismiss India on day one itself for just 158. India was suppressed further after the Proteas batsman came up with the combined batting effort and posted 476 on the board and secured a huge 321 runs lead. As it happens on most occasions in a Test match, most fail when asked to confront a lead of this size. Apart from Mohammad Azharuddin, nothing special came from other Indian batsmen as the hosts slumped to 250 all out. Azhar’s efforts of holding one end together earned his an appreciable knock of 102 but it wasn’t enough to save his team from losing by a innings and 71 runs. Having been already 0-1 behind in the 2- 0 match series, losing the all-important match haplessly makes this loss even more humiliating.