5 highest Indian partnerships in an overseas Test (outside Asia)
Batting partnerships in cricket are one of the most important aspects of the game.
India are often known as a batting country. However, when they travel abroad batsmen have struggled (sometimes). But every time India have been able to put up big scores, they have done well. And those big scores have come on the back of some very good partnerships.
Note - Only partnerships outside Asia have been taken into consideration
#5 Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly – 249 (Leeds - 2002)
Throughout the 1990s, India dominated at home but struggled when they toured overseas. In fact, their only away series win in the last decade of the 20th century came in Sri Lanka in 1993. Thus, India weren’t great travellers.
In 2002, when India toured England, they started off the tour on a superb note – winning the Natwest Tri-series. However, England beat India in the first Test and the latter managed to hold onto a draw in the second one. The third Test was at Leeds, Headingley where most visiting teams struggled (in the past).
Under overcast skies and with a pitch covered with a decent amount of grass, the Indian captain surprised everyone when he chose to bat first after winning the toss. He even played two spinners (Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh). However, his decision paid off as the batsmen stood up and delivered a brilliant performance. Rahul Dravid (148) and Sanjay Bangar (68) battled hard in tough conditions but they batted beautifully to set-up the game for India.
However, it was Ganguly and Tendulkar who consolidated the visitor’s position of strength. Skipper Sourav Ganguly who walked into bat at No. 5 after a 150-run stand between Dravid and Tendulkar (at 335/3), just continued the good work done by the top-order.
Tendulkar and Ganguly put on 249 for the fourth wicket on the second day of the Test match. They were patient at the start of their respective innings with the ball moving around, but once they were set they dominated the English attack. Ganguly, in particular, was severe against off-spinner Ashley Giles as he used his feet regularly and hit him over the top.
Tendulkar, on the other hand, was his usual self. Driving, cutting and pulling the ball with authority. Though there was an odd play and a miss, the duo were largely untroubled. Thus, their partnership of 249 helped India reach a mammoth total of 628.
Tendulkar scored 193 while Ganguly made 128. Eventually, India won the game by an innings and 46 runs to square the series 1-1.