The fourth innings of a test match are usually considered to be the hardest one, for batting. The pitch would have faced significant deterioration, and the scoreboard pressure that comes with the target, contribute to it. We will now look at the highest individual scores by Indian batters in the fourth innings of a test.
P.S: The particular list will have knocks by different batsmen, ie., if the same batsman has multiple knocks in the top 10, only the best will be present in this list.
10. Rishabh Pant (2018)
This game was the final test in the India tour of England. India had already lost the series. This match had them chasing a target of 464. This game was in the debut series of Rishabh Pant. However, he played really well, as he and KL Rahul both scored centuries in this innings. Despite that, India fell short of the target, and lost the match. Rishabh Pant scored 114 runs in this innings.
9. Shikhar Dhawan (2014)
This was the first test of the India tour of New Zealand. India had to chase a target of 407. Shikhar Dhawan scored a splendid century during the chase. His century, and supporting knocks by Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni brought India close to the target. However, India still lost the match. Shikhar Dhawan scored 115 runs in this innings.
8. Polly Umrigar (1959)
India toured England for a test series. In the fourth game, England batted first, and scored 490. Then, India batted, and scored 208. In the third innings, England declared the innings at 265-8. Hence, India received a steep target of 548. The Indian team managed to have a good batting performance in the final innings, with Abbas Ali Baig, and Polly Umrigar scoring centuries. India got all-out for 376, and lost the match. Polly Umrigar scored 118 runs in this innings.
7. Yuvraj Singh (2006)
India toured Pakistan for a test series. This game was pretty even at the end of the first and second innings. However, in the third innings, Pakistan scored 599, and set a target of 607 for India. The chase proved improbable, and India lost by a massive margin. The lone bright spot of the innings, was Yuvraj Singh’s century. Yuvraj Singh scored 122 runs in this innings.
6. Vijay Hazare (1949)
This game was a part of the West Indies tour of India. India getting dismissed for 193 early on meant, they had to chase 361 in the final innings. Vijay Hazare came in at the fall of the third wicket, and scored a century. India came very close to the target, at 355-8, after which the, play got over, and the match was a draw. Vijay Hazare scored 122 runs in this innings.
5. Sachin Tendulkar (1999)
India hosted Pakistan in this test. All four innings of the game had scores in nearly the same range. India had to score 271 to win in the final innings. In usual Sachin fashion, he scored alone, with everyone around him, getting dismissed. At 254-6, with just 17 runs to win, Sachin got dismissed. However, the following three wickets fell for four runs, and India lost the match. Sachin Tendulkar scored 136 runs in this innings.
4. Virat Kohli (2014)
This game was Virat Kohli’s first game as captain. He led by example with his twin centuries. India had to score 364 in the final innings, to win the game. Kohli’s century ensured India reached close to the target. But eventually, India got bowled out for 315, and lost the match by 48 runs. Virat Kohli scored 141 runs in this innings.
3. Dilip Vengsarkar (1979)
India was the home team in this test against Pakistan. In the final innings, India had to chase a target of 390. Dilip Vengsarkar had a brilliant century, when the next highest score in the innings was just 60. The game ended as a draw, with India at 364-6, at the end of the play. Dilip Vengsarkar scored 146 not out in this innings.
2. KL Rahul (2018)
India toured England for a five-match series. This game was the last one, with India losing the series 1-3. In this final game, India had a massive target of 464 to score. Indian batsmen, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, scored centuries each, but yet, India didn’t reach anywhere near the target. India lost the match by 118 runs. KL Rahul scored 149 runs in this innings.
1. Sunil Gavaskar (1979)
This was yet another masterclass from Sunil Gavaskar. England had set a colossal target of 438. Gavaskar produced a double hundred. This is the only double hundred by an Indian batsman in the fourth innings, to date. India managed to get close to the target at 429-8. However, the match got drawn. Sunil Gavaskar scored 221 runs in this innings.
