Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli give Indian cricket a high five
India cricket team has enjoyed a magnificent season at home as they swept aside New Zealand, England, Bangladesh and Australia to win 10 out of the 13 Tests. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli have played stellar roles. Here is a look back at some of the key moments in an epic season
India enjoyed a magnificent season of dominance at home. From September 22 when the first Test against New Zealand was played in Kanpur to March 28 when the final Test against Australia ended, India scaled new heights. Out of 13 Tests, they won 10 and lost only one. They swept aside New Zealand 3-0, England 4-0, Bangladesh 1-0 and came out on top against a determined Australia to clinch the series 2-1. (Dharamsala Test Highlights)
This season has witnessed some epic moments, milestones and achievements. Here are a list of some of the moments in what has been a truly magnificent 2016/17 season for India. (Dharamsala Test Scorecard)
500th Test for India
The first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur was a special occasion for India as they were playing their 500th Test. From humble beginnings in their first Test in 1932, the team had come a big way. Almost 85 years later, the team joined an elite group of nations that had played 500 Tests or more. India started with a 197-run win at Green Park and it laid the foundation for what would be a home season to remember.
Virat Kohli’s massive appetite for runs
The 2016/17 season saw Virat Kohli scale the peaks of batting like never before. After a relatively lean start in the New Zealand series, he got going with a magnificent 211 in the third and final Test in Indore as India achieved a 3-0 whitewash. However, it was during the England series where Kohli’s greatness came to the fore. Before this series, he averaged only 20 against them.
After the series in 2016/17, he took it to 44. Kohli’s consistency was a treat for the fans. In the entire series, his scores were 40,49*,167,81,62,6*,235,15. He ended the series with 655 runs at an average of 109. His fine form continued against Bangladesh as he smashed yet another double century, making him the only player to score four double tons in four consecutive series. This season enhanced the greatness of Kohli.
Karun Nair’s entry into the 300-club, Ravindra Jadeja’s solo effort
Karun Nair created history in the Chennai Test against England as he became the second Indian triple-centurion after Virender Sehwag. His 303 helped India achieve their highest-score in Test cricket and it laid the foundation for Ravindra Jadeja to wreck havoc. On day 5, Jadeja single-handedly demolished England with a haul of 7/48 and also taking a brilliant one-handed catch to ensure India won the Chennai Test and the series 4-0.
Bangladesh come to India for the first time
Bangladesh had made their Test debut in 2000 and had achieved limited success. However, they were never invited for a tour to India. All that changed when they arrived in February for a one-off Test in Hyderabad. Bangladesh had made giant strides after they entered the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup and they put up a good show against a dominant Indian side.
India registered 687/6 declared and Bangladesh put up a good fight as they reached 388. They took the game to the final day but Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked up four wickets apiece to end Bangladesh’s resistance. Although they lost the Test, Bangladesh had put up a good show on their first visit to India.
India hold series wins against all teams at the same time
After the end of the Australian series in 2014/15, India were seventh in the ICC Test rankings. In 2015, under the full time captaincy of Virat Kohli as Test skipper, India began the revival. With series wins over Sri Lanka, South Africa and West Indies, India had jumped to No.2. A dominant display against New Zealand, England and Bangladesh sealed their No.1 ranking. Against Australia, they fell behind after losing the first Test in Pune by 333 runs.
After bouncing back with a win in Bangalore, they drew in Ranchi which meant it was do-or-die in Dharamsala. India held their nerve and defeated Australia 2-1, making them only the third team after Australia and South Africa to hold a series win against all Test teams at the same time. It was a fitting end to a dominant season.
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