Top 10 overseas Test knocks by Indian captains in the history of the game

We often hear the term ‘captain’s knock’ in cricket and the captain leading from the front. The captain (if he is a batsman) more often than not looks to set an example with the bat every time he is in the middle.

And India have been very fortunate to have a few very good captains who always led from the front with the bat.

Also, to do it away from home is always special.

Thus, we look at top 10 Test knocks by Indian captains away from home.

#10 MS Dhoni – 90 vs South Africa (Centurion - 2010)

Image result for MS Dhoni in South Africa (2010)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most successful captains to have played for India. He may have scored only 6 Test hundreds and none away from home as captain, but he was always chipped in with important contributions and batted very well with the lower-order.

When India went to South Africa in 2010/11, they were the No. 1 Test team and the South Africa tour was going to be a stern test for them. India were blown away in the first innings of the first Test and were bowled out for 136. South Africa then piled up a mammoth total of 620.

In the second innings, India did show some fight but were staring down the barrel when skipper MS Dhoni (who scored 33 in the first innings) walked out to join Sachin Tendulkar. India were still trailing by almost 200 runs. However, Dhoni played an excellent counter-attacking knock that caught South Africa off-guard. He scored 90 in just 106 balls in testing conditions and forged a brilliant 172-run stand with Tendulkar.

However, this 90 isn’t remembered by a lot of people as it was overshadowed by Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th Test ton. Though India lost the game, the way Dhoni batted against the likes of Steyn, Morkel, Tsotsobe and Kallis was brilliant. And it was one of his best knocks away from home.