India's Monumental Test Victories: Cricket History's Best

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India achieved an extraordinary milestone on Sunday, securing their most significant Test victory by defeating England with a staggering margin of 434 runs.

In Rajkot, the home team showcased their dominance by dismissing Ben Stokes' squad for a mere 122 runs while chasing a daunting target of 557, on day four.

This victory propelled them to lead the five-match series with a commanding 2-1 advantage.

Let's delve into five of India's most monumental triumphs in the traditional five-day format:

1) 434 v England, 2024

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased brilliance with his unbeaten score of 214, propelling India to declare at 430-4. This formidable total handed the tourists a daunting target in Rajkot.

The bowlers played a pivotal role in securing the victory as they effectively countered England's aggressive "Bazball" strategy.

Despite the tourists starting day three strong at 207-2, they faltered and collapsed to a total of 319 all out.

India obtained a significant lead of 126 runs going into their second innings.

The bowlers, spearheaded by Ravindra Jadeja, once again showcased their prowess by quickly dismissing England in just over a single session on day four.

This victory marked India's largest margin of victory in terms of runs.

2) 372 v New Zealand, 2021

India delivered a dominant performance in the second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai.

Opener Mayank Agarwal's impressive score of 150 propelled the hosts to a total of 325 runs.

Subsequently, the bowlers displayed exceptional skill by quickly dismissing the opposition for a mere 62 runs.

India continued their strong batting display, setting New Zealand a mammoth target of 540 runs, with Agarwal leading the charge with his innings of 62.

The tourists faced an uphill battle from the start and never gained momentum in the chase.

Spinners Jayant Yadav and Ashwin joined forces to swiftly dismiss them for 167 runs, sealing the victory for India within four days.

3) 337 v South Africa, 2015

Ajinkya Rahane's impressive performances, scoring 127 and an unbeaten 100 in India's two innings, overshadowed a marathon defensive effort by Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers in New Delhi.

Ultimately, India clinched victory in the fourth Test on the final day of the match.

India set a challenging target for the Proteas, posting scores of 334 and 267-5 declared, ultimately setting them a victory target of 481 runs to chase within just over five sessions.

Initially, South Africa faced setbacks as they lost their openers early. However, Amla and De Villiers opted for a resilient defensive strategy, aiming to secure a draw and putting up a tough grind for the Indian bowlers.

Both Amla and De Villiers exhibited remarkable patience, facing 232 balls each to accumulate just 44 runs before their departures.

However, once they were dismissed, the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure, resulting in South Africa being bowled out for 143 runs in the final session.

4) 321 v New Zealand, 2016

India delivered a masterclass to the visiting New Zealand team in the third Test at Indore, with spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leading the charge by claiming an impressive match haul of 13 wickets.

Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in setting up the victory with his magnificent innings of 211 runs, forming a formidable partnership with Rahane, who contributed an impressive 188 runs. Together, they propelled India to a commanding first innings total of 557-5 declared.

Off-spinner Ashwin continued to shine, taking six wickets to dismantle New Zealand's batting lineup, bowling them out for 299 runs.

Despite India setting New Zealand a challenging target of 475 runs for victory, the visitors fell well short, managing only 153 runs.

Ashwin's stellar performance, claiming seven wickets in the innings, earned him the title of Man of the Match and Man of the Series as India completed a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash.

5) 320 v Australia, 2008

Skipper M.S. Dhoni showcased exemplary leadership in India's dominant performance against Australia in Mohali, contributing scores of 92 and an unbeaten 68 in the two innings for the hosts during the second Test.

India put up a formidable total of 469 runs after opting to bat first, building substantial partnerships, notably a 142-run stand between Sourav Ganguly, who scored 102, and Sachin Tendulkar, who contributed 88 runs.

In their second innings, India declared at 314-3, setting Ricky Ponting's Australia a challenging target of 516 runs.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan displayed their prowess by claiming three wickets each, effectively bowling out the opposition for 195 runs on the fifth day of the match.