Top 5 Test innings by Indians against South Africa

India’s ‘Big Three’ – Sachin, Ganguly & Dravid – feature in this listSince the Proteas readmission to Test Cricket in 1992, they have always been a formidable team in the longer format of the game. As a result, a good innings against the South Africans has always been viewed with great respect.The Indians have encountered the African nation many a time over these past twenty years or so, and though the results might not have been in favour of India much of the time, we have been witness to some memorable knocks by the Indian batsmen. Now, as the Indians prepare for a home series against the Proteas, here is an attempt to look at some of the best innings played by Indians against the South Africans over the years. 

#5 Sourav Ganguly 51* at Johannesburg, 2006

The first Test of the 2006-07 series turned out to be a historic one as India registered their first victory on South African soil in the longer format of the game. The hero of the match was beyond doubts S Sreesanth, whose 5-wicket haul in the first innings played a leading hand in bowling out the Proteas for 84.

But this game at Johannesburg was also the comeback match for former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and the Prince of Kolkata made it a royal come back. With an unbeaten 51, he was the top scorer in India’s first innings score of 249. More than the number of runs, it was the circumstances in which the runs were scored and the fact that it resulted in India’s first Test victory in South Africa that makes this knock very special.