India has been one of the best teams across formats over the years. England, too, has been a brilliant cricket-playing nation in all forms of the game. Both nations have met each other on numerous occasions, and have played some great matches. As far as the red ball is concerned, England and India, have played some historic test matches. The bilateral series between the two nations has happened over the years, which has given a lot of excitement to the fans. England started the sport, and India has always put their best foot forward, the matches between the two have drawn a lot of attention. This article is about the best scores by India against England in the test format.
1. 759/7d
This is India’s highest test total in the history of Indian cricket. The historic total came against England in Chennai. In the fifth and final test of England’s tour of India in 2016, England won the toss and elected to bat first. They put up a formidable 477 on the board. Ravindra Jadeja was the highest wicket-taker in the innings, with three wickets. In reply, India smashed their highest-ever test total of 759. Opener KL Rahul scored 199, including sixteen fours and three 6s. Waiting in the dressing room, was Karun Nair, who smashed a triple-ton (303) of just 381 balls, including 32 fours and four 6s. England scored only 207 in their second inning and ultimately lost the match by an innings and 75 runs.
2. 664/10
India toured three nations in 2007, including England, Ireland, and Scotland. On the 9th of August, India elected to bat first at the Oval in the third test of the series. Dinesh Karthik and Wasim Jaffer opened the innings, and the former scored 91 runs. Sachin Tendulkar scored 82 runs, while MS Dhoni smashed 92. VVS Laxman also scored a half-century, but it was the leg-spinner, Anil Kumble who scored a century. His 110 of 193 balls, including a maximum and sixteen boundaries helped India score a mammoth total of 664. In reply, England could manage only 345 in their first innings. The match ended in a draw, and Anil Kumble was the MOTM for his five wickets and a century in the match.
3. 631/10
At the historic stadium of Wankhede, Mumbai, India smashed their third-highest total against England in the test format. On 8th of December 2016, Alastair Cook won the toss and elected to bat first. England scored 400 on a good batting surface, and in reply, India bashed a big score of 631. India opener Murali Vijay scored 136 runs. The stand-out performer for India in their first innings was the skipper, Virat Kohli, who smashed 235 runs, including 25 boundaries and a six. Ravi Ashwin took six wickets in the second innings as England fell short by an innings and 36 runs.
4. 628/8d
India went past 600 yet again vs. England. This time, it was the India’s tour to England. On the 22nd of August 2002, India batted first in Leeds. In the build-up to the massive total of 628, Rahul Dravid scored a brilliant 148, for which he was awarded with the MOTM as well. Then, the master, Sachin Tendulkar, did what he does best. He played a brilliant innings of 193, followed by a century from the skipper, Sourav Ganguly, who smashed 128 runs, including fourteen 4s and three 6s. It was a historic win for India as they defeated England by an innings and 46 runs. Anil Kumble took seven wickets in the match.
5. 606/9d
India elected to bat first and put 606/9 on the board. Thanks to the brilliant knocks by Ravi Shastri (187) and Kapil Dev (110) that helped India to go above 600 runs. In reply, England scored 340 and was enforced by follow-on. In their second innings, England scored 477/4d, and the match ended in a draw.
6. 591/10
At the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, England toured India and played the third and final test of the series. Electing to bat first, England scored 347. India took a 244-run lead after scoring 591. Vinod Kambli scored a brilliant 224, followed by half-centuries from Navjot Sidhu, Sachin Tendulkar, and Pravin Amre. India won the match by an innings and 15 runs.
7. 560/6d
England toured India in 1993. On the 11th of February, England and India played the second match of the series in Chennai. India batted first and put up a formidable total of 560/6d. Sachin Tendulkar scored 165, and Navjot Sidhu scored 106. Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, and Kapil Dev scored half-centuries and helped India to get to 560 runs. The Englishmen were bowled out for 286 and were enforced a follow-on. In the end, India won the match by an innings and 22 runs.
8. 553/8d
India batted first in the fifth test of England’s tour of India in 1985. On the January 31st, the two teams played a fine test match in Kanpur. India scored 553 runs after centuries from Dilip Vengsarkar (137) and Mohammad Azharuddin (122). England replied with 417 runs, and Kapil Dev took a brilliant four-wicket-haul. The match ended in a draw after valiant efforts from both teams.
9. 521/8d
England toured India in 2012 for a brilliant test series. On the 15th of November, the two teams played the first test match of the series in which India opted to bat first and scored 521. Cheteshwar Pujara scored a brilliant 206, followed by Virender Sehwag’s 117 runs at a strike rate of 100. In reply, England were bowled out for just 191 runs, which set the tone for the hosts and helped them win the match by nine wickets in the end.
10. 521/10
India scored 521/10 against England in Nottingham in 1996. On the 4th July, India opted to bat and scored 521 runs with the help of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 136 and 177, respectively. Rahul Dravid also contributed with a great effort and scored 84 runs. The match ended in a draw.
