Tail standing tall: Top 5 ODI scores by India’s tail-enders
Wrapping up the batting tail of the opposition has often been a tedious task for the Indian team. However, there have been a few occasions on which the Indian tail has stood strong. Here are five such instances when an Indian batsman from the lower order (batting position 8-11) went on to record a significant score. These are the top five entries.
5) Ravindra Jadeja – 66* vs New Zealand, 2014
New Zealand batted first and posted 314 runs in Auckland. The Indian top-order faltered in reply. At 184/6, the game was truly in the favour of the hosts. However, Ravindra Jadeja (66*) and R Ashwin (65) stitched a stand of 85 runs to take India closer. India needed 18 runs off the last over with the final wicket at the crease. Jadeja brought the equation down to 2 runs from 1 ball but could only take a single off the last ball. The match ended in a tie.
4) Ajit Agarkar – 67* vs Zimbabwe, 2000
In Rajkot, India were asked to bat first by the visiting team. Hemang Badani’s 77 placed them at 216/6 in 43.3 overs. It was Agarkar show after that. The pace bowler smashed India’s fastest ODI fifty, a record which he still holds (21 balls). His knock of 67 came from just 25 balls and took India past 300 runs. Agarkar then took 3/26 with the ball to secure a victory for his team.
3) JP Yadav – 69 vs New Zealand, 2005
In this triangular series in Zimbabwe, India met New Zealand in the 2nd match. Pathan claimed 3/34 to restrict the Kiwis to 215. In reply, the Indian team collapsed to 44/8. JP Yadav and Irfan Pathan (50) added 118 runs for the 9th wicket to ignite the hopes of an unlikely win. However, both were dismissed in quick succession as India finished short by 51 runs.
2) Deepak Chahar – 69* vs Sri Lanka, 2021
With India’s senior cricketers in England, the second-string Indian team is battling with Sri Lanka in limited-overs. Sri Lanka were cruising towards a victory in the 2nd ODI in Colombo until Deepak Chahar changed the course of the match. Chasing 276, India were reeling at 193/7. Chahar along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a measured knock to take India home and clinch the series victory.
1) Ravindra Jadeja – 77 vs New Zealand, 2019
A knock that won’t be forgotten by the Indian fans for a long time. The 2019 World Cup semi-final seemed all but over until Jadeja decided to play a blinder. His innings of 77 from just 59 balls brought India back and ignited hopes of an unbelievable victory. Trent Boult dismissed him and New Zealand clinched the high-pressure game.
