Greatest-ever run-chase by an Indian team: Vengsarkar

Former Test captain and ex-selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar on Monday hailed India's six-wicket win over England in the Chennai Test as the best-ever run-chase by an Indian team.

Former Test captain and ex-selection panel chief Dilip Vengsarkar on Monday hailed India's six-wicket win over England in the Chennai Test as the best-ever run-chase by an Indian team.

HT Image

Vengsakar said the chase was better than the one by Bishan Singh Bedi's squad against the West Indies in 1976 at Port of Spain.

"This is easily the better one as it had come on a fifth day track on which the ball was turning square and against a more balanced attack (than the one possessed by the Clive Lloyd-led West Indies)," Vengsarkar said in Mumbai on Monday.

India, chasing a huge fourth innings target at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, reached 387 for four - riding on Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten century (103) and an equally important innings played by Yuvraj Singh, who remained unconquered on 85.

In Trinidad, 32 years ago India made 406 for four to create a new record for the highest successful fourth innings run-chase which was subsequently bettered by Brian Lara's West Indies in 2003 at St John's in Antigua against Australia.

Vengsarkar, a member of the 1976 touring squad to the Caribbean, was fulsome in his praise of Tendulkar, Yuvraj and Virender Sehwag, whose blistering knock of 83 on Sunday, laid the foundation for Test cricket's fourth-best run chase and the best-ever in the sub continent.

"It was a stupendous effort to chase 387 on the fifth day track. And Sachin was there till the end to guide India home. His partnership with Yuvraj, who too was there till the end, was crucial," said Vengsarkar.