India at 5 Centenary Tests: Amarnath’s Hundred, Ashwin’s 10-For

Take a look at what happened in India’s 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th and 500th Test match.

India couldn’t have asked for a better 500th Test match. They thrashed New Zealand by 197 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the series at Kanpur on Monday.

The Indians became the fourth team in the world to play 500 Tests after England (976), Australia (791) and West Indies (517).

Here’s a look at what happened in India’s 100th, 200th, 300th, 400th and 500th Test match.

100th Test – England vs India, 1967

India were still finding their feet in international cricket by the time they played their 100th Test match. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s side crumbled to a 132-run loss to England at Birmingham in July 1967.

The visitors restricted England to 298 runs in the first innings but after India managed only 92 runs in reply, Pataudi’s team played catch up cricket right till the end.

However, this was the only Test match in which, India fielded all the four spinners from the famous Indian spin quartet – Bishan Bedi, Bhagwath Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna.

200th Test – Pakistan vs India, 1982

India’s 200th Test match was a tame draw against Pakistan at Lahore in December 1982. Powered by Zaheer Abbas’ double century, Pakistan posted a big total of 485 runs and in reply India scored 379 with the help of Mohinder Amarnath’s century.

Pakistan ended the Test match at 135/1 on the fifth day of the match.

300th Test – India vs South Africa, 1996

India’s 300th Test match should be named the Javagal Srinath Test. After India managed to set a target of only 170 runs for South Africa at Ahmedabad in November 1996, the Karnataka bowler unleashed himself and picked up six wickets for 21 runs in the second innings. India eventually won the game by 64 runs.

Interestingly, the Very Very Special Laxman made his Test debut in this match.

400th Test – West Indies vs India, 2006

India may have wrapped up their 400 Test in three days with a 49-run victory against West Indies at Jamaica in July 2006, but the three days were very eventful.

After India posted a mere total of 200 runs in the first innings, Harbhajan Singh’s five-wicket haul helped India get the West Indian team all out for 103 runs.

Then, Rahul Dravid grinded out a score of 68 off 166 balls which propelled India to a lead of 268 runs.

Thereafter, Anil Kumble came to the party and picked up figures of 6/78. The home team were bundled out for 219 runs.

500th Test – India vs New Zealand

India got off to a dodgy start in their 500th Test. They posted a relatively low total of 318 runs on a good batting pitch.

But the spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja restricted the Kiwis to just 262 runs which provided the much needed impetus for the Indians.

Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma’s brilliant batting effort handed India a lead of 433 runs.

Ashwin’s figures of 6/132 in the second innings didn’t give the slightest of chance for the Kiwis to play for a draw or go for victory.

In this Test, the off-spinner also became the fastest Indian to pick up 200 Test wickets.