Team India on the verge of breaking an all-time record in Test cricket

Team India is currently playing the Freedom Series against South Africa and have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match Test series. The hosts tasted a one-sided victory in the first game at Visakhapatnam. The twin centuries by Rohit Sharma; Agarwal’s double-ton, Ashwin’s brilliance in the first inning, and scintillating spells by Jadeja & Shami in the second ensured that India won by 203 runs. If they defeat the Faf du Plessis’ men in the second Test commencing from 10 October at Pune, they will break an all-time record.

The number one Test team is undefeated at home in their last 10 Test series and boasts a terrific record in India. Since 2013, the Indian team has played 30 Test matches at home and lost only one game with 24 wins in their bag. India have well and truly made the home an unbreachable fortress. This streak started under MS Dhoni when India won two series against Australia and West Indies in 2013 and have clinched eight series wins under Virat Kohli since the latter took over the captaincy.

India clean swept the visiting teams six times which tells a lot about their sheer dominance at home. Australia had two streaks of 10 series wins at their home. One from 1994 to 2001 as they bagged seven series’ under Mark Taylor and three under Steve Waugh. The Australian team won a series under Adam Gilchrist and nine under Ricky Ponting during 2004-09. However, they failed to win the eleventh Test series on both occasions which broke their winning streak.

India’s excellent record at home is often downplayed, as many believe it is very easy to win at home. But, that’s not the case with other teams. Many sides like South Africa, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh have lost matches and even series at their respective homes in recent times.

It’s just India are so good in their own backyard that the visiting teams have failed to penetrate their fort. Since 2013, India’s win/loss ratio is 24 which is comfortably the best for any team at home. The second is for Australia — 5.750, roughly 4 times less than that of India. This clearly speaks about the volumes of India’s staggering quality in their den.

Kohli’s men have a sublime record at home because of a few reasons – a solid batting unit in familiar conditions and impeccable bowling attack especially the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja. The current Test mace holders are too strong for the tourists not to win the series.

India, who are the table-toppers in the World Test Championship with 160 points in their bank, will register eleven consecutive Test series wins at home if they defeat South Africa in the second match. Kohli who started his captaincy journey at home against Hashim Amla-led South Africa in 2015 is on the way to achieve yet another milestone against the same team.

~ Written by Tushar Jain