5 forgotten fast bowling performances by Indians in overseas Tests
India has always been a nation that has produced quality batsmen. Fans love the batting gods who go and break a plethora of records. However, to win a Test match you need 20 wickets to win. India's home record is something to envy. Since the turn of the century, India has only lost three Test series; one each to South Africa in 2000, Australia in 2004 and England in 2012.
However, India has never been able to consistently win matches overseas because they never had the luxury of a possessing a strong pace attack. India would rely on one or two bowlers to do the job. If they broke down in the middle of the tour due to excessive stress, Indian team management would be clueless.
In spite of these issues, there were some memorable bowling performances overseas especially in England, South Africa and Australia which resulted in memorable victories.
Let's remember 5 such forgotten bowling performances which made India proud.
#5 Chetan Sharma - 5/64 vs England, Lords - 1986
Chetan Sharma is remembered for as the man who famously got smacked by Javed Miandad in Sharjah when Pakistan needed 5 runs from 1 ball. Some ardent fans might also remember him as the first Indian bowler ever to pick up a hat-trick against New Zealand in the 1987 World Cup. But, Chetan Sharma was a decent fast-medium bowler who did a bit more in his career than the ones mentioned above.
India were playing England at Lords in the opening Test match and had no hesitation in bowling first on a typical English green seamer. Kapil Dev won the toss and decided to bowl, Chetan Sharma and Roger Binny bowled impressive spells and had England on the mat. Graham Gooch scored 114, but it was Sharma's 5/64 which razed out England for 294.
India scored 341 in their first innings and again bowled out England for a paltry 180 when Kapil Dev, Maninder Singh and Chetan Sharma shared the honours. India were given a target of 136 and they chased it down with 5 wickets to spare.