That Sunil Gavaskar remains the only Indian to score a double century in a Test in England? (5 August 2002)

In 41 Tests in England since 1932, Indian batsmen have scored 26 hundreds. But only on one of these occasions has an Indian batsman gone on to make a double hundred against England in England.

The landmark was breached on the last day of the four-Test series between India and England in 1979. The Oval, where the match was being held, was bathed in brilliant sunshine as Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan made their way to the middle on the fifth day. On the fourth evening, the Indian opening duo had added 76 runs without being separated. This meant that their side required a further 362 runs at almost a run-a-minute on the final day to notch a famous series-leveling win.

Ranged against them was an English attack led by Ian Botham and Bob Willis. Botham, in particular, was in fine fettle and looking to crown his achievement of becoming the fastest to complete the double of a 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in Tests - he accomplished the feat in the course of his 34 in the England first innings - by bowling his side to victory. But they were up against a Gavaskar, all geared up to do battle. Summoning every ounce of his famous concentration, the little master began to will his side towards the target. His determination seemed to rub off on Chauhan as the Indian hundred and then the 200 was raised without any fuss. The partnership between the duo yielded 213 runs before Chauhan fell after making 80 off 263 balls.

Dilip Vengsarkar, who followed, proved a reassuring replacement. With Gavaskar in complete control of the situation, the duo turned on the heat as the chase continued in earnest. Tea was taken with India at 304-1 and nursing visions of a famous win.

The rattled Englishmen sensed the impending danger and began to deliberately take their time in getting through their overs once play resumed. The Indian score, though, continued to move along at a healthy rate and had reached 366 before Botham struck, removing Vengsarkar. Next man Kapil Dev, promoted up the order as a pinch-hitter, failed , being dismissed for no score after he had faced just three balls.

Gavaskar, then, teamed up with Yashpal Sharma to add a rapid 22 runs to the total. But with the score on 389, the Englishmen inflicted a hammer blow - Gavaskar holing out to mid-on after a monumental 490-minute long innings which saw him score 221 off 443 balls with the aid of 21 boundaries. The little master’s concentration had probably been disturbed by the latest drinks break.

The remaining Indian batsmen tried their utmost to bring off the win but in the end they found the task too onerous. India eventually ended up on 429 for eight just nine runs away from a most famous win. Gavaskar, appropriately, was named the Man of the Match.

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