The greatest Test innings by Indian batsmen post-2000 that wasn't a century
Often in India, a century is more remembered and celebrated regardless of its context than a more valuable innings having greater impact that may be less than a century.
At times, the 70's and the 80's in a collectively low scoring game are much more praiseworthy than centuries on pitches where most batsmen from both teams score big. Also, these knocks might have been played at a crucial juncture of the match in more difficult situations where the team is in dire straits, the pitch is at its toughest or in a higher pressure situation.
Here we look at five such innings by Indian batsmen in the post 2000 era that were most valuables without being three figures.
1. Virender Sehwag 83 of 68 vs England, Chennai 2008
This was the in the first of the two match Test series between India and England where India were set a target of 387 in a day and a session by England. Having declared their 3rd innings due to the dominant position of strength they found themselves at, where they couldn't lose the match (Or at least by the looks of it then).
However, going against the norm of playing out the draw that most mortals would look to do, the flamboyant and ever-aggressive Virender Sehwag set about chasing down the improbable target.
On a deteriorating pitch against a high quality English attack with two outstanding spinners, he counter attacked on the final session of Day 4 hammering 83 of 68 and getting India to 100-0 in no time, making an improbable looking win very achievable.
From then on, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, and Yuvraj Singh all made significant contributions helping India register a famous win and the 3rd highest run chase then. But, it was the inspirational approach taken by Virender Sehwag that set the tone and instilled belief in others to think of achieving the impossible.