Year-ender 2024: Top memorable moment for Team India in Test Cricket in the year 2024.
It was a roller coaster year for Team India in terms of Test results. They started with a victory in the shortest-ever red-ball contest (642 balls) at Newlands, Cape Town, against South Africa to end with a humiliating defeat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against Australia. In between, there were highs of Kanpur against Bangladesh and the disappointment against New Zealand at home.
For the first time since 2012/13, the blue brigade lost a Test series at home. It also resulted in their maiden whitewash in a home Test series of three or more games. Six weeks later, their veteran off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, hung up his boots from international cricket. The Chennai-born finished as India’s second leading wicket-taker in red-ball contests with 537 scalps in 106 encounters.
A look at the memorable moments in Test cricket for Team India in 2024
India show mirror to England’s propensity with 4-1 series victory
Before the start of the series, the talk of the town was how the Rohit Sharma-led side would neutralise England’s new and aggressive batting mindset. The opening win in Hyderabad by 28 runs by the tourists raised a few eyebrows over the home side.
But an incredible 209-run knock from Yashasvi Jaiswal set the stage for India’s comeback in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. Jasprit Bumrah’s 6/45 in the first innings pushed them ahead before Shubman Gill cracked a 104-run knock in the second innings. The hosts held their nerve for an incredible 106-run win to square the series at 1-1.
Winning a Test match in Asia always depends on a huge first innings score and India followed that template beautifully. Rohit joined the party with a century in the third Rajkot Test, while Ravindra Jadeja also contributed with 112 runs. The two-time World Test Championship (WTC) runners-up’s second innings was decorated by young Jaiswal’s unbeaten 214-run knock. His incredible contest against the experienced James Anderson increased positivity in the home camp, as they went 2-1 up in the series with a huge 434-run victory.
The action resumed in Ranchi for the fourth Test. At 177/7 in reply to England’s 353 in the first innings, the home side were struggling. But a composed 90-run knock from Dhruv Jurel carried India to 307. Nine wickets between Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav blew the Ben Stokes-led away for 145. Chasing was never an easy task on that surface. But an unbeaten 72-run stand for the sixth wicket between Jurel (39*) and Gill (52*) inspired them to another series victory at home.
The fifth and final five-day fixture took place in Dharamsala. India batted only once and posted 477, thanks to twin tons from Rohit and Gill. That was enough for the home side to record a victory by an innings and 64 runs, as the spin trio ran through the visitors in both innings. India sealed the series by a 4-1 margin.
Relentless India script implausible victory in Kanpur
The new head coach of India, Gautam Gambhir, was already introduced by then. They came into the second Test against Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur with high spirits after a victory in the opening Test in Chennai. The game was vital for the hosts, keeping the WTC 2023-25 final qualification in mind. But the foul weather and poor outfield didn’t allow much play in the first three days. The onus was on India to push the game towards a result.
Having bundled the visitors out for just 233 in the first innings, they needed quick runs. The 55-run opening stand between Jaiswal and Rohit in 23 legal balls set the platform. The latter drilled 72 runs in 51 balls, while KL Rahul smacked 68 runs in 43 deliveries. The shuffle in the batting order displayed extraordinary T20-style cricket. Fluent stroke play wasn’t straightforward with low bounce, but India managed to declare at 285/9 in 34.4 overs. Bumrah, Ashwin, and Jadeja shared three wickets each to fold up the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side for 146 in the second innings.
Another half-century from Jaiswal in 45 balls saw them chasing 98 runs in 17.2 overs with seven wickets in hand. That encouraged the side not to lose hope in any situation.
Read More: IND vs BAN, 2nd Test, Day 5: Winning mentality, Jadeja's critical strikes help India sweep series
Disciplined India counter pace and bounce of Perth
The lead-up to the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 for India was daunting with a 0-3 home series defeat against New Zealand. They found themselves in a claustrophobic position. Rohit wasn’t available for the opening game at the Optus Stadium as Bumrah shouldered the responsibility. And then, they were bundled out for just 150 in two sessions on the very first day of the trip.
But the Ahmedabad-born pacer was not prepared to accept defeat that easily. He ran through Australia’s batting line-up to unsettle them at 38/5. Mohammad Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana contributed with five wickets between them. The stand-in captain’s 5/30 in 18 overs tore the Pat Cummins-led side apart for just 104.
The victory for India was nearly confirmed, thanks to the 201-run opening stand by Jaiswal and Rahul. The former roared with his maiden Test century down under, a knock that ended on 161 runs, shouldering 15 fours and three sixes. Virat Kohli took center stage and remained unbeaten in his 30th red-ball century to set a target of 534.
It was again the class of Bumrah that no home batters had any answer to, limping at 17/4. Travis Head (89) and Mitchell Marsh (47) had some fun in the middle. But neither of those were enough to save them from a 295-run defeat as India went 0-1 up in the series.
The year 2025 will start with India’s final game of the BGT 2024-25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). It’s a contest that they have to win to stay alive for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final. The year could see a transition in the team as they make a trip to England and host West Indies and South Africa. Time will tell if they do stand up to the expectations.
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