Dilip Vengsarkar’s Top 3 performances in Test Cricket

In this article, we will discuss Dilip Vengsarkar’s Top 3 performances in Test Cricket. Dilip Vengsarkar is one of the most prolific No.3 batters who has played for India. Dilip Vengsarkar was born on April 6th, 1956, and made his name by scoring a belligerent ton against the Rest of India which had spinners of the caliber of Erapalli Prasanna and Bishan Sigh Bedi.   

Dilip Vengsarkar was handed his debut in India’s tour to New Zealand in 1975-76. He started his career as an opener alongside Sunil Gavaskar but did not taste success. However, after being dropped again for a brief spell, he was again recalled in the Indian Test team as a No.3 batter, and this time he made the spot his own.  

In terms of numbers, he was the world’s best batter in terms of number surpassing even the likes of Viv Richards, Sunil Gavaskar, and Javed Miandad. During 1983-1987, Vengsarkar played 35 Tests in which he scored 2,772 runs at an average of 64.46 which was the best in the world. 

Vengsarkar in his 17-year Test career made 6,868 runs in 116 Tests at an average of 41.37. He also has 17 centuries and 35 half-centuries against his name. Vengsarkar provided stability to the Indian batter order which they required in the middle order as Sunil Gavaskar was the lone warrior along with Gundappa Vishwanath most of the time.  

During his career, he played some sensational innings that captivated cricket fans from around the world. In this article, we will highlight the top three Test innings of Dilip Vengsarkar’s Test career: 

3) 166 vs Sri Lanka – Cuttack – 1987 

Dilip Vengsarkar played the role of the crisis man of Indian batting in his career. One such instance was against Sri Lanka on a treacherous Cuttack pitch. India after electing to bat was languishing at 70-2 on a wicket which was termed as a ‘lottery’.  

While every other Indian batter was getting out after getting a start because of the uncertain nature of the pitch, Vengsarkar held his ground and kept on grinding. He ended the day in 98 not out and came back the very next day to notch up an excellent century.  

He even went on to score his career-best 166 in this match. India scored a mammoth total of 400 on this pitch courtesy of Dilip Vengsarkar and Kapil Dev. India eventually went on to win the match by an innings and 67 runs. 

2) 102 vs West Indies – 1987-88 

Dilip Vengsarkar enjoyed the purple patch of his career during 1983-87. He even surpassed the likes of Viv Richards and Javed Miandad during this period. As a result of his sublime form, he was appointed as the captain of the Indian team against the mighty West Indies team led by Viv Richards.  

Dilip Vengsarkar went on to hit a ton in only his first match as a captain as he played a scintillating 102-run innings in the 1st test. It was referred to as one of the most tenacious innings of Vengsarkar’s Test career. Although India lost the Test match by 5 wickets on the back of a blistering century by Viv Richards, this knock of Dilip Vengsarkar will remain one of his most memorable knocks. 

1) 102 not out vs England – Headingley – 1986 

It is touted to be Dilip Vengsarkar’s best innings in Test cricket. Vengsarkar always had a sound technique because of which he often rescued India from precarious position and one such example of it is his valiant century on a difficult Headingley pitch.  

India beat England by 279 runs and Dilip Vengsarkar scored 61 and 102 not out in both the innings. It was not an easy pitch to bat on, which can be ascertained by the fact that the next-best score in the entire match was 35. Dilip Vengsarkar in both innings came into bat after the first two wickets fell and was there even with the 11th No. Batter in both the innings. The 102* was even termed as the ‘best innings played by an Indian overseas’ by Wisden at that time.