The elite club of Indian batsmen – Highest Individual Innings

Arshad Chughtai

March 30, 2001

Vangipurrapu Laxman's superb 281 is the 3rd highest individual innings ever in the sub-continent. His marvellous innings ranks 3rd behind ST Jayasuriya's 340 v India in Colombo in August 1997 and Hanif Mohammed's 337 v West Indies in Bridgetown in January 1958. Both Laxman's and Hanif's innings were special in that both were in follow-on situations created by batting collapses in the first innings. 'Little Master' Hanif's innings stands out as it was played away from the sub-continent but Laxman did come in to a much more unsettled situation caused by the failure of the normally brilliant Sachin Tendulkar. Hanif occupied the crease for a little over 16 hours (970 mins), a world record, in a 6-day test helping his team stave-off almost certain defeat

Laxman's heroic innings proved to be the turning point of the series and a resurgent India went on to win the series 2-1. Pakistan though went on to lose the series against the Windies 3-1 but in the process registered their 3rd away win ever and their first ever Test win against Windies.

Apart from VV Laxmans record innings there are, 5 other double centuries scored by Indians which form the highest individual innings score for Indians in Test cricket to date. The performances of these 'elite' Indian batsmen are listed below:

• 281 VVS Laxman v Australia at Calcutta, 2000-2001
  
• 236* SM Gavaskar v West Indies at Madras, 1983-84
  
• 231 MH Mankad v New Zealand at Madras, 1955-56
  
• 223 PR Umrigar v New Zealand at Hyderabad, 1955-56
  
• 223 MH Mankad v New Zealand at Bombay, 1955-56
  
• 220 SM Gavaskar v West Indies at Port of Spain, 1970-71
  * not out.

• PR Umrigar was the first Indian to score a double century in Test Cricket
  
• Late VM Mankad scored two double centuries in the same series against New Zealand in 1955-56
  
• Three double centuries were scored for India against New Zealand and one for New Zealand (B Sutcliffe 230 not out at New Delhi) in the 1955-56 series
  
• SM Gavaskar scored a double century in his debut series against West Indies in 1970-71
  
• DN Sardesai (212) scored a double century in the same series against West Indies 1970-71 when Gavaskar also notched up his first double ton
  

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