NEW DELHI: For Indian cricket lovers of radio days, the Oval is almost a sacred spot. Here in 1971 Ajit Wadekar-led India vanquished England in England for the first time. Coming 24 years after the country had gained freedom and on the heels of a seemingly improbable away 1-0 series win over the West Indies, the triumph felt like the beginning of a new era. The Times of India’s headline -“India’s Finest Hour” -aptly captured the nation’s mood. Over the decades, the Oval has been a site of several other outstanding performances by India.
Here’s a select list of men who took centerstage there:
Chandrashekhar’s Dream Spell
England enjoyed the upper hand in the first three days of the 1971 Test. But the inscrutable leg-spinner turned the tide. “England was unable to distinguish between his top spinner from his leg-break,” wrote Ajit Wadekar in his autobiography, My Cricketing Years. His 6/38 is among the most remembered spells in India’s Test history. After the match was over, an Indian restaurant’s new menu offered “Chandrashekhar soup”, reflecting the state of the hosts after facing his deliveries.
Solkar’s Super Catch
During the 1971 series, Alan Knott had hustled and frustrated the visitors with his aggressive batting. At Oval, Wadekar knew it was imperative to dismiss the keeper-batter early. Knott (1) played at a Venkataraghavan delivery and the ball travelled barely a yard from the bat. Stationed at forward short-leg, Solkar later recalled the moment. “I went for the dive ofmy life and somehow got there! For an agonising moment the ball rested on the finger-tips of my ‘cupped’ hands and could have dropped off. But somehow I pulled it back into the two-handed ‘hollow’ of my hands and Venkat had given India the wicket she needed most. My colleagues are inclined to regard this as the best-ever close-in catch I’ve taken,” he wrote in an article, ‘My best catches,’ for the Illustrated Weekly of India in 1979. India’s finest close-in fielder passed away in 2005.
Gavaskar’s Super Double Ton
In the 1979 Oval Test, when India began their pursuit of England’s 438 in the fourth innings, the betting odds for an Indian win was nearly 500:1. Understandably so. No team had chased down such a mammoth target in the 102-year-old history of Test cricket. The chase was thrilling; every ball keenly followed on radio. Sunil Gavaskar’s monumental 221 almost made the impossible happen. “This was the innings in which he stamped himself on the English cricket conscience,” wrote Mihir Bosein The History of Indian Cricket. In the end, India fell tantalisingly short by 9 runs with two wickets to go; a couple of dubious decisions against the visitors and captain Mike Brearley’s go-slow policy playing their part. Some draws feel like wins. This was one of them.
Rohit’s Breakout Knock
For years, Rohit Sharmawas a dominating whiteball batter. But a red ball century away from home had eluded him. At Oval in 2021, Rohit redefined his batting credentials and improved his resume. His 127 was unlike anything he had played before. It revealed the Mumbai batter’s newfound acumen in finding a way to conquer tough conditions and a tougher first-rate pace attack. The innings came when India were under the pump and became the cornerstone of the team’s match-winning reply. With this knock, Rohit attained manhood in Test cricket.
Thakur, The Allrounder
Shardul Thakur’s counter-punching 57 off 36 balls at Oval in 2021 is among the most exhilarating cameos in India’s Test history. The innings rescued India from a lowly 127/7 to 191. Thakur wasn’t done yet. His 60 in the second innings proved equally vital to India’s cause as did his three wickets in the game, the masterly Joe Root included. Rohit took the man-of-the-match. Nobody would have disapproved if Thakur had got the same.
Here’s a select list of men who took centerstage there:
Chandrashekhar’s Dream Spell
England enjoyed the upper hand in the first three days of the 1971 Test. But the inscrutable leg-spinner turned the tide. “England was unable to distinguish between his top spinner from his leg-break,” wrote Ajit Wadekar in his autobiography, My Cricketing Years. His 6/38 is among the most remembered spells in India’s Test history. After the match was over, an Indian restaurant’s new menu offered “Chandrashekhar soup”, reflecting the state of the hosts after facing his deliveries.
Solkar’s Super Catch
During the 1971 series, Alan Knott had hustled and frustrated the visitors with his aggressive batting. At Oval, Wadekar knew it was imperative to dismiss the keeper-batter early. Knott (1) played at a Venkataraghavan delivery and the ball travelled barely a yard from the bat. Stationed at forward short-leg, Solkar later recalled the moment. “I went for the dive ofmy life and somehow got there! For an agonising moment the ball rested on the finger-tips of my ‘cupped’ hands and could have dropped off. But somehow I pulled it back into the two-handed ‘hollow’ of my hands and Venkat had given India the wicket she needed most. My colleagues are inclined to regard this as the best-ever close-in catch I’ve taken,” he wrote in an article, ‘My best catches,’ for the Illustrated Weekly of India in 1979. India’s finest close-in fielder passed away in 2005.
Gavaskar’s Super Double Ton
In the 1979 Oval Test, when India began their pursuit of England’s 438 in the fourth innings, the betting odds for an Indian win was nearly 500:1. Understandably so. No team had chased down such a mammoth target in the 102-year-old history of Test cricket. The chase was thrilling; every ball keenly followed on radio. Sunil Gavaskar’s monumental 221 almost made the impossible happen. “This was the innings in which he stamped himself on the English cricket conscience,” wrote Mihir Bosein The History of Indian Cricket. In the end, India fell tantalisingly short by 9 runs with two wickets to go; a couple of dubious decisions against the visitors and captain Mike Brearley’s go-slow policy playing their part. Some draws feel like wins. This was one of them.
Rohit’s Breakout Knock
For years, Rohit Sharmawas a dominating whiteball batter. But a red ball century away from home had eluded him. At Oval in 2021, Rohit redefined his batting credentials and improved his resume. His 127 was unlike anything he had played before. It revealed the Mumbai batter’s newfound acumen in finding a way to conquer tough conditions and a tougher first-rate pace attack. The innings came when India were under the pump and became the cornerstone of the team’s match-winning reply. With this knock, Rohit attained manhood in Test cricket.
Thakur, The Allrounder
Shardul Thakur’s counter-punching 57 off 36 balls at Oval in 2021 is among the most exhilarating cameos in India’s Test history. The innings rescued India from a lowly 127/7 to 191. Thakur wasn’t done yet. His 60 in the second innings proved equally vital to India’s cause as did his three wickets in the game, the masterly Joe Root included. Rohit took the man-of-the-match. Nobody would have disapproved if Thakur had got the same.
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