India's 5 best Test knocks in Perth ft. Sachin Tendulkar in 1992
Team India will begin their 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign with the first Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth starting November 22. The Indian team sans skipper Rohit Sharma has been practicing in Perth over the last few days. They are currently taking part in a match simulation as part of their preparations.
India have played four Test matches against Australia at the WACA in Perth, winning one and losing the other three. The first India-Australia Test at the venue took place in December 1977 followed by clashes in 1992, 2008, and 2012. India and Australia have met once at the Optus Stadium in Perth in 2018. The hosts won the contest by 146 runs.
Perth has proved to be a tough venue for visiting batters, but some Indian stars have managed to come up with excellent efforts. Ahead of the upcoming Test, we look back at India's 5 best Test knocks in Perth (both stadiums included).
#5 VVS Laxman (79) - January 2008
VVS Laxman loved batting against Australia in Test cricket. He played a crucial knock of 79 at the WACA in the second innings of the third Test during the 2007-08 tour. India put up 330 batting first, with Laxman's contribution being a handy 27. Australia replied with 212, as India got a significant first-innings lead of 118 runs.
The Aussies, though, came hard at India in the second innings and reduced the hosts to 160-6. Laxman held the fort for the visitors, occupying the crease for 228 minutes in his 156-ball knock. With support from MS Dhoni (38) and RP Singh (30), Laxman lifted India to 294 before he was the last man out. Set a target of 413, Australia were bowled out for 340 in 86.5 overs.
#4 Virat Kohli (123) - December 2018
Leading from the front, Virat Kohli scored a magnificent ton in the Perth Test in December 2018. After Australia put up a competitive 326 on the board batting first, India needed to come up with a strong reply. They only managed 283.
Things could have been worse for the visitors but for Kohli's fighting hundred. The right-handed batter held the innings together for India, hitting 13 fours and a six in his 123, which came off 257 and lasted 373 minutes. Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane (51) added 91 for the fourth wicket.
India did well to restrict the Aussies to 243 in their second innings as pacer Mohammed Shami claimed 6-56. They, however, ended up losing the Test by 146 runs. Chasing 287, India folded up for 140 in 56 overs.
#3 Sunil Gavaskar (127) - December 1977
Former captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian batter in a Test match in Perth. He scored 127 in the second Test of the five-match series in 1977-78.
Batting first, India posted 402 on the board as Mohinder Amarnath scored 90 and Chetan Chauhan 88. Australia, however, replied with 394 despite Bishan Singh Bedi's five-fer as Bob Simpson scored 176.
It all came down to a second innings tussle. Gavaskar hit a typically defiant hundred, scoring 127 off 245 balls with the aid of 20 fours. He added 193 for the second wicket with Mohinder Amarnath (100). India declared their second innings on 330-9. Australia, however, chased a target of 339, with two wickets in hand.
#2 Rahul Dravid (93) - January 2008
Team India's wall Rahul Dravid played a stellar role in India's famous Test win in Perth in January 2008. The visitors began the series poorly, losing the first two Tests. The second match in Sydney was marred by the Monkeygate scandal and some horrendous umpiring decisions.
India were an inspired outfit heading into Perth and Dravid laid the foundation for their win with a resolute 93 in the first innings. His 183-ball knock lasted 278 minutes and featured 14 fours. Sachin Tendulkar also scored 71 as India put up 330 on the board. Their bowlers then held Australia to 212, which went a long way in ensuring a 72-run win for India.
#1 Sachin Tendulkar (114) - February 1992
A young Sachin Tendulkar scored an iconic century in Perth in February 1992 in the fifth Test of the five-match series. Batting first in the contest, Australia put up 346 on the board and then reduced India to 159-8.
Tendulkar, however, stood tall amid the ruins and notched up a high-quality ton. Holding his own against the likes of Craig McDermott, Merv Hughes and Paul Reiffel, he scored 114 off 161 balls. The right-handed batter's knock lasted 228 minutes during which he hit 16 fours and added 81 runs for the ninth wicket with keeper-batter Kiran More (43).
Tendulkar's heroics lifted India to 272. The visitors were, however, set a massive target of 442 after Dean Jones (150*) and Tom Moody (101) hit hundreds. India folded up for 141 in 55.1 overs in their second innings.