Established before India’s independence in 1945, Green Park Stadium is a world-class cricket stadium located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Situated in the Civil Lines area in the northeastern part of Kanpur near the banks of the river Ganga, the stadium is named after Madam Green who used to practice horse riding in the 1940s. It is the only international venue in the country which is not owned by a state cricket association and is run by the Sports department of Uttar Pradesh.

Kanpur’s cricket stadium staged its first international Test match in 1952 against England and has since then hosted 22 Tests, 15 ODIs and one T20I.

Currently, the stadium has a seating capacity of around 45,000 including a student gallery and possesses the world's largest manually operated scoreboard.

The Indian cricket team has remained unbeaten at this venue in Test cricket since 1983, last losing to the mighty West Indies. India have won seven Tests, lost three and drawn 12 matches at Green Park Stadium.

It is the home ground of the Uttar Pradesh cricket team and has also hosted several first-class matches at this venue. 

Here, we look at the Test and first-class records made at Green Park.

Green Park Stadium Test records

Highest team total: India posed 676/7 against Sri Lanka in a Test match in 1986, which is the highest team total at Green Park in the longest format. After Sri Lanka registered 420 in their first innings, the hosts rode on Sunil Gavaskar’s 176, Mohammed Azharuddin’s 199 and captain Kapil Dev’s 163 to put up a mammoth score on the board. The Test match ended in a draw.

Highest individual score: Former West Indies opening batter Faoud Bacchus boasts of the highest individual score at Green Park Stadium in Test cricket. Bacchus�?250 powered the visitors to 452/8 in reply to India’s 644/7d in the first innings in 1979. The Test ended in a dull draw. 

Best bowling figures: Former India off-spinner Jasubhai Patel holds the record of the best bowling figures at Kanpur in the longest format. Jasubhai Patel picked nine wickets for 69 runs to restrict Australia to 219 in their first innings in 1959. The off-spinner brought India back into the game after the hosts were bowled out for 152 in the first innings. India eventually won the match by 119 runs.

Most runs: Former India cricketer Gundappa Viswanath has scored the most runs at Green Park in Kanpur in Tests. The right-handed batter amassed 776 runs in seven Test matches at a staggering average of 86.22. He has smashed three hundreds and four fifties at this venue.

Most wickets: Former India cricket team captain Kapil Dev has claimed the most wickets at the Green Park Stadium. The right-arm pacer has bagged 25 wickets in seven Test matches with best bowling figures of 6/63.

Highest partnership: Mohammad Azharuddin and Kapil Dev hold the record for the highest partnership at the Green Park Stadium. The former Indian duo forged a massive 272-run partnership for the sixth wicket against Sri Lanka in a Test match in December 1986. While Mohammad Azharuddin scored 199, Kapil Dev slammed 163 as the opening Test of a two-match series later ended in a draw.

Green Park Stadium first-class records

Highest team total: Tamil Nadu posted a mammoth 696/5d against Uttar Pradesh in a first-class encounter in the 1999-2000 season, which is the highest team total ever posted at the venue.

Lowest team total: Uttar Pradesh’s 62 is the lowest team total at this venue in Kanpur. After Bengal posted 193 in their first innings, their bowlers bundled out the hosts for a humiliating score. Ranadeb Bose was the wrecker-in-chief for Bengal, picking five wickets for just 18 runs.

Highest individual score: Tamil Nadu’s Sridharan Sriram had smashed 288 against Uttar Pradesh in a first-class game in the 1999-2000 season. It is still the highest individual score registered at Green Park.

Best bowling figures in an innings: Uttar Pradesh’s Ashish Zaidi holds the record for the best bowling figures in an innings at Green Park. The former fast bowler scalped nine wickets for 45 runs against Vidarbha in a first-class encounter in the 1999-2000 season.

Highest partnership: Karnataka’s Ravikumar Samarth and Mayank Agarwal registered the highest partnership (unbeaten 262) at the venue against hosts Uttar Pradesh in first-class cricket in 2017-18 season. 

Featured photo: BCCI

The MA Chidambaram Stadium is an iconic cricket ground located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Popularly known as the Chepauk Stadium, the MA Chidambaram Stadium was established in 1916. It is India’s second oldest cricket stadium after Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Owned and operated by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), the stadium is located at Chepauk, a few hundred metres from Marina beach along the Bay of Bengal.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium is named after Muthiah Annamalai Chidambaram, the former president of BCCI and Head of TNCA. It was formerly named as Madras Cricket Club Ground.

It is the home ground of the Tamil Nadu cricket team in domestic cricket and Team Chennai in the Indian T20 League.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium staged its first international match, a Test played between Douglas Jardine's England and CK Nayudu's India in February 1934. England won the Test by 202 runs.

Since then, it has hosted more than 35 Test matches so far. It has also staged several ODIs and T20 internationals in men’s cricket.

Let’s have a look at the MA Chidambaram Stadium Test records and stats:

MA Chidambaram Stadium Test records and stats

Highest total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. During the fifth Test of England’s tour of India in December 2016, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth 759/7d after bowling out England for 477. Karun Nair’s unbeaten triple century (303 not out), KL Rahul’s 199 and fifties from Parthiv Patel (71), Ravichandran Ashwin (67) and Ravindra Jadeja (51) powered India to a record Test total at the venue. England were later bundled out for 207 in their second innings as India won the Chennai Test by an innings and 75 runs.

Lowest total

India have also registered the lowest total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. Chasing 284 in the fourth innings, the Bishan Bedi-led side was skittled out for 83 in the third Test of England’s tour of India in January 1977. Sunil Gavaskar top-scored for India with 24 while Mohinder Amarnath scored 12. For England, left-arm spinner Derek Underwood was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets while fast bowler Bob Willis picked up three scalps. Earlier, India could only manage 164 in their first innings after England posted 262. The visitors later scored 185/9d in their second innings to set-up a target of 284. 

Most runs

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Chennai. Between 1973 and 1987, the legendary batter accumulated 1,018 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 59.88, including three centuries and just as many fifties at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in red-ball cricket. Another Indian batting great, Sachin Tendulkar, features second on the list with 970 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 88.18 between 1993 and 2013. He slammed five hundreds and two fifties at this venue in Tests. 

Most wickets

Legendary India cricketer Anil Kumble claimed the most wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. The former leg-spinner bagged 48 Test wickets in just eight matches between 1993 and 2008 at an average of 19.56. Kumble took five five-wicket hauls at this iconic venue in cricket’s longest format. His best bowling figures (7/48) at this ground in Tests came against Australia in October 2004. His former teammate Harbhajan Singh is second on the list with 42 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 28.04.

Highest individual score

Former Indian opening batter Virender Sehwag registered the highest individual score at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the Test format. Opening the innings alongside Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag slammed 319 off just 304 balls against South Africa in March 2008. Sehwag's magnificent triple century was laced with 42 fours and five maximums in Chennai. After South Africa posted 540, India recorded 627 in their first innings courtesy Sehwag’s triple hundred. The visitors declared their second innings at 331/5 as the first Test of a three-match series ended in a draw.

Best bowling figures in an innings

Former India all-rounder Vinoo Mankad recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 1952. The former left-arm spinner registered match-winning figures of 8/55 to help restrict England for 266 in their first innings. Vinoo Mankad dismissed Tom Graveney, Jack Robertson, Allan Watkins, Cyril Poole, captain Donald Carr, Malcolm Hilton, Brian Statham and Fred Ridgway. Mankad also picked up four wickets in the second innings as India won the Test by an innings and eight runs in Chennai.

Best bowling figures in a match

India’s Narendra Hirwani holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The former India leg-spinner took 16 wickets during the fourth Test of West Indies�?tour of India in 1988. While Hirwani scalped eight wickets for 61 runs in the first innings, he bagged eight wickets for 75 runs in the second innings. Hirwani’s incredible bowling performance helped India win the Test by a massive 255 runs.

Highest partnership

Former Indian cricketers Gundappa Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma recorded the highest partnership at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. During the fifth Test of England’s tour of India in 1982, Gundappa Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma forged a massive 316-run stand for the third wicket in their first innings. Viswanath slammed 222 while Sharma scored 140. The match later ended in a draw in Chennai.

Photo credit: Imago

The India vs South Africa cricket rivalry is one of the most enthralling rivalries in modern-day cricket.

An India vs South Africa cricket match is one of the most-awaited fixtures in the cricketing calendar, be it home or away or any format of the game.

India was the first team to invite South Africa for a three-match One-Day International series in November 1991 after the apartheid policy had kept them out of international cricket for more than 20 years.

That was the first meeting between the sides with India winning the series 2-1. From then on, both India and South Africa have been part of some exciting duels in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

India and South Africa have met each other at the international stage on 164 occasions with South Africa being victorious 80 times and India winning 70 matches. There have been 10 draws with four matches ending without a result.

South Africa are marginally ahead in the race in the longest format of the game with 18 wins compared to India’s 16. A total of 10 matches out of the total 44 have ended in draws.

Incidentally, the rainbow nation remains the final frontier for the Men in Blue as they are yet to win a Test series in South Africa. The last series in December-January 2023-24 in South Africa ended in a draw with both teams winning one Test each.

In ODIs too, South Africa hold a superior record with 51 wins from 94 matches. India have won 40 ODIs with three of them getting abandoned without a result. Sachin Tendulkar created history by becoming the first player to score a double-hundred in ODI cricket, in a contest against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010. 

Coming to the shortest format of the game, India holds the edge in T20Is with 14 victories from 26 matches. South Africa follow closely with 11 wins and a game being abandoned.

With that being said, let’s have a look at India vs South Africa head-to-head in cricket.

India vs South Africa head-to-head in cricket

Format	Matches	India won	South Africa won	Draw/Tie/NR
Test	44	16	18	10
ODI	94	40	51	3
T20I	26	14	11	1
Total	164	70	80	14

India vs South Africa in World Cups

Tournament	Matches	India won	South Africa won	Draw/Tie/NR
50-over World Cup	6	3	3	0
T20 World Cup	6	4	2	0
Total	12	7	5	0

India vs South Africa cricket records and stats

India vs South Africa in Tests

Highest team total in a Test innings: India scored 643/6d against South Africa in the second Test at Eden Gardens in 2010. 

Lowest team total in a Test innings: India bowled South Africa out for 55 in the second Test in Cape Town in 2024.

Highest individual score in Tests: Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag scored 319 against South Africa in the first Test in Chennai in 2008. 

Best bowling figures in Tests: India’s Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 12/98 against South Africa in the third Test in Nagpur in 2015. 

India vs South Africa in ODIs 

Highest team total in ODIs: South Africa posted 438/4 against India in the fifth ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2015. 

Lowest team total in ODIs: India bowled South Africa out for 83 in the 2023 ODI World Cup clash at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Highest individual score in ODIs: India’s legendary Sachin Tendulkar scored 200* against South Africa in the second ODI at Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior in 2010. 

Best bowling figures in ODIs: India’s Sunil Joshi picked up 5/6 against South Africa in the second match of the LG Cup at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi in 1999. 

India vs South Africa in T20Is

Highest team total in T20Is: India scored 237/3 against South Africa in the second T20I in Guwahati in 2022. 

Lowest team total in T20Is: India bowled South Africa out for 87 in the fourth T20I in Rajkot in 2022. 

Highest individual score in T20Is: David Miller’s unbeaten 106 for South Africa in the second T20I in Guwahati in 2022 is the highest individual score registered in this fixture.

Best bowling figures in T20Is: India’s Kuldeep Yadav picked up 5/17 against South Africa in the third T20I at Johannesburg in 2023.

Photo credit: Alamy

Legendary duo of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar hold the record for the most partnership runs for India across all formats in international cricket.

Between 1992 and 2008, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar scored a total of 12,400 runs together in 247 innings to register the most partnership runs for India. The Indian pair recorded an impressive average of 51.45 with 38 centuries and 50 fifties across formats.

Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar forged one of the most iconic batting pairs in One-Day International (ODI) cricket.

The swashbuckling duo also hold the record for the highest overall partnership runs in ODIs, having amassed 8,227 runs in 176 innings with 26 centuries and 29 fifties. In Test cricket, the stylish pair aggregated a total of 4,173 runs with 12 century stands and 16 fifty partnerships. 

Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar feature second in the list of most partnership runs for India.

Dravid and Tendulkar accumulated 11,037 runs in 241 innings between 1996 and 2012. The legendary batting pair registered an average of 47.98 with 31 centuries and 43 fifties.

Considered to be one of the most dangerous Indian batting pairs, Dravid and Tendulkar hold the record for the highest overall partnership runs by a pair in Test cricket.

Dravid and Tendulkar amassed 6,920 runs in partnerships in Test matches with 20 centuries and 29 fifties. In ODI cricket, the Indian pair scored a total of 4,117 runs with 11 century stands and 14 fifty partnerships. 

Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly are third in the list of most partnership runs for India.

Between 1996 and 2008, Dravid and Ganguly scored a total of 7,657 runs together in 156 innings at an average of 51.38 with 21 century partnerships and 30 fifty stands.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma became only the fourth Indian pair to accumulate a total of 7,500 runs together across formats in international cricket. 

Widely regarded as one of the most iconic batting pairs in modern day cricket, Kohli and Sharma amassed 7,537 runs together in 247 innings to register the fourth-most partnership runs for India. 

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag complete the top five list of most partnership runs for India. 

Between 2003 and 2013, Gambhir and Sehwag scored a total of 7,199 runs together in 153 innings across formats at an average of 48.31 with 17 hundred stands and 36 fifty partnerships.

Know the top 10 list of most partnership runs for India across formats in international cricket.

Most partnership runs for India

Partners	Span	Innings	Runs	Average	100	50
Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar	1992-2008	247	12,400	51.45	38	45
Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar	1996-2012	241	11,037	47.98	31	43
Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly	1996-2008	156	7,657	51.38	21	30
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma	2010-2024	157	7,537	49.91	24	26
Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag	2003-2013	153	7,199	48.31	17	36
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma	2011-2022	173	6,984	40.84	22	22
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar	2001-2012	138	5,964	43.85	17	23
Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar	1989-2000	120	5,899	52.2	17	24
Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane	2011-2023	108	5,611	54.47	16	27
Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman	1996-2012	118	5,314	47.87	16	20

Photo credit: Alamy

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is one of the world's oldest cricket grounds located in New Delhi, India.

Established in 1883, the stadium was earlier known as the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium and is the second oldest international cricket stadium in India after the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Located near the Kotla Fort, the  Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium was renamed to Arun Jaitley Stadium in September 2019 in memory of former Finance Minister of India and former Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Arun Jaitley. 

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is the home ground of the Delhi cricket team and Delhi franchise in the Indian T20 League.

The stadium hosted its first international match, a Test between India and West Indies, in November 1948. Since then, the venue has staged 35 Tests, 31 ODIs and seven T20Is.

Apart from international matches, it has also staged several Indian T20 League matches and other T20 matches in domestic as well as at club levels.

Let’s have a closer look at the Arun Jaitley Stadium T20 records and stats.

Arun Jaitley Stadium T20 records and stats

Highest total

Team Hyderabad holds the record for the highest total at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in T20 cricket. During an Indian T20 League match in 2024, the Pat Cummins-led Hyderabad posted a mammoth 266/7 in their 20 overs against Team Delhi. Put into bat, Hyderabad rode on fifties from Travis Head (89) and Shahbaz Ahmed (59 not out), along with contributions from Abhishek Sharma (46) and Nitish Reddy (37) to post a record T20 total at the venue. In reply, Delhi were bowled out for 199 in 19.1 overs as Hyderabad won the game by 67 runs.

Lowest total

Team Delhi registered the lowest total at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the T20 format. Chasing 213, Delhi were bundled out for 66 in 13.4 overs by Team Mumbai during an Indian T20 League encounter in 2017. Karun Nair top-scored for Delhi with 21 off 15 balls. For Mumbai, Harbhajan Singh and Karn Sharma bagged three wickets each while Lasith Malinga took two scalps. Earlier, the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai posted 212/3 in their 20 overs courtesy half-centuries from Kieron Pollard (63 not out) and Lendl Simmons (66). Mumbai won by 146 runs in Delhi.

Most runs

Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag scored the most runs at the venue in T20 cricket. Between 2007 and 2015, the flamboyant right-handed batter amassed 1,199 runs in 40 matches at an average of 31.55 and a strike rate of 158.80. He slammed nine fifties at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in cricket’s shortest format. Sehwag represented the likes of the Indian cricket team, Team Delhi and Punjab in the Indian T20 League as well as the Delhi cricket team in domestic cricket at this venue.

Most wickets

Veteran spinner Amit Mishra has scalped the most wickets at this cricket ground in the T20 format. Representing the likes of Team Deccan, Team Delhi and Team Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League as well as the Haryana cricket team in domestic cricket at this venue, the leg-spinner bagged 76 wickets in 60 matches at an average of 19.28 and an economy of 7.03. His best T20 bowling figures at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is 5/17 against Team Deccan in Indian T20 League 2008. Umesh Yadav is second on the list with 31 wickets in 30 matches.  

Highest individual score

Chris Gayle and Rishabh Pant hold the record for the highest individual score at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in T20 cricket. Opening the batting, former Bengaluru opener Chris Gayle smashed 128 not out off just 62 balls against Delhi in an Indian T20 League match in 2012. Later in 2018, Delhi wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant equalled the record after he slammed 128 not out off 63 balls against Hyderabad in an Indian T20 League match.

Best bowling figures

Former Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga registered the best bowling figures at this venue in the T20 format. Former Mumbai fast bowler Lasith Malinga recorded magnificent figures of 3.4-1-13-5 against Delhi during an Indian T20 League encounter in 2011. Malinga dismissed David Warner, Unmukt Chand, Venugopal Rao, Morne Morkel and Ashok Dinda to help bowl out Delhi for 95 in 17.4 overs. Delhi later successfully chased down the required target in 16.5 overs as they won the match by eight wickets. Apart from Malinga, Amit Mishra, P Saravana Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and Nischal Gaur have scalped five wicket-hauls in the T20 format at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Highest partnership

Team Bangalore’s Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli hold the record for the highest partnership at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in T20 cricket. During an Indian T20 League match in 2012, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli forged an unbeaten 204-run partnership for the second wicket against Team Delhi. While Gayle slammed 128 not out, Kojli remained unbeaten on 73 to power Bangalore to 215/1 in their 20 overs. Bangalore later restricted Delhi to 194/9 in their allotted overs to win the match by 21 runs.

Highest successful chase

Team Mumbai holds the record for the highest successful chase at this venue against Team Chennai during an Indian T20 League match in 2021. Chasing a target of 219, Mumbai rode on Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 34-ball 87 along with contributions from Quinton de Kock (38), Rohit Sharma (35) and Krunal Pandya (32) to chase down the target with four wickets in hand. Earlier, Moeen Ali (58) and Faf du Plessis (50) powered Chennai to 218/4 in their 20 overs.

Photo credit: Alamy

Former legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has the record for the most centuries for India in Test cricket. 

Widely regarded as arguably the greatest batter of all time, Sachin Tendulkar slammed 51 centuries, the most by any player in Test history. 

Former South African star all-rounder Jacques Kallis is second on the all-time list with 45 Test hundreds while former Australia captain Ricky Ponting features third with 41 Test tons.

Current Indian cricket team head coach and former captain Rahul Dravid holds the record for the second-most centuries for India in Test cricket.

Between 1996 and 2012, Dravid hit 36 Test centuries in his legendary international career.

Among active cricketers, talisman Virat Kohli has the most centuries for India in Tests. Kohli has registered 29 Test centuries in 113 matches since making his Test debut in 2011.

Most centuries for India in Test cricket

Player	Span	Matches	Innings	100s
Sachin Tendulkar	1989-2013	200	329	51
Rahul Dravid	1996-2012	163	284	36
Sunil Gavaskar	1971-1987	125	214	34
Virat Kohli	2011-2024	113	191	29
Virender Sehwag	2001-2013	103	178	23
Mohammad Azharuddin	1984-2000	99	147	22
Cheteshwar Pujara	2010-2023	103	176	19
Dilip Vengsarkar	1976-1992	116	185	17
VVS Laxman	1996-2012	134	225	17
Sourav Ganguly	1996-2008	113	188	16

Sachin Tendulkar | 51 Test centuries

Sachin Tendulkar is the only player to have scored 50 centuries in Test cricket. After making his Test debut against arch-rivals Pakistan in Karachi in November 1989, Tendulkar cemented his place on top of the most tons charts by an Indian when he broke Sunil Gavaskar’s record for the most centuries in Test cricket history in December 2005. Tendulkar notched up his 35th Test ton against Sri Lanka in Delhi as he surpassed Gavaskar’s record of 34 Test centuries. He ended his illustrious career with 51 Test centuries in 200 matches, which is still a record in cricket’s longest format.

Rahul Dravid | 36 Test centuries

Rahul Dravid features second on the list for the most centuries for India in Test cricket. Often referred to as ‘The Wall�? Rahul Dravid slammed 36 Test centuries in the 163 matches that he played in his magnificent career. The former India cricket team captain is fifth on the all-time list for most Test centuries, only behind Tendulkar, Kallis, Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara. 

Sunil Gavaskar | 34 Test centuries

Acknowledged as one of the greatest opening batters of all time, Sunil Gavaskar has the third-most centuries for India in Test cricket. Between 1971 and 1987, Gavaskar hit 34 Test centuries in 125 matches. Interestingly, Gavaskar’s all-time record of 34 Test hundreds stood for almost 20 years before Sachin Tendulkar surpassed his record in December 2005.

Photo credit: Alamy

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag holds the record for the most runs scored in a session in India. 

During the third Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of India in 2009, the swashbuckling opening batter slammed 133 runs in the third session on Day 2 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.

Interestingly, Sehwag surpassed his own record where he scored 108 runs against South Africa in the second session on Day 3 at the M. A. Chidambaram in Chennai in 2008.

Meanwhile, England’s flamboyant left-handed batter Ben Duckett features second on the list for the most runs scored in a session in India. Duckett became the first visiting batter to score 100-plus runs in a session in India. The southpaw scored 114 runs against  hosts India during the third session on Day 2 in Rajkot in 2024.

The likes of MS Dhoni and Karun Nair also feature on the impressive list. Get the top five list of most runs scored in a session in India.

Most runs scored in a session in India

Player	Team	Runs	Against	Venue	Year
Virender Sehwag	India	133	Sri Lanka	Brabourne	2009
Ben Duckett	England	114	India	Rajkot	2024
MS Dhoni	India	109	Australia	Chennai	2013
Karun Nair	India	108	South Africa	Chennai	2016
Virender Sehwag	India	108	South Africa	Chennai	2008

Virender Sehwag | 133 vs Sri Lanka | Brabourne, 2009

Regarded as one of the most destructive openers, Virender Sehwag has the record for the most runs scored in a session in India. While Sehwag was batting at 151 against Sri Lanka at tea on Day 2 in Brabourne in 2009, the right-handed batter then hammered 133 runs in the third session as he reached unbeaten 284 at stumps. However, Sehwag was later dismissed on 293 by Muthiah Muralidaran on Day 3. Despite Sehwag’s dismissal, India posted a mammoth 726/9d in reply to Sri Lanka’s 393. The hosts bowled out Sri Lanka for 309 in their second innings to win the Test by an innings and 24 runs. 

Ben Duckett | 114 vs India | Rajkot, 2024

England’s Ben Duckett is second on the list for the most runs scored in a session in India. After the Rohit Sharma-led India posted 445 in their first innings of the Rajkot Test on Day 2 in February 2024, Ben Duckett took the attack to the opposition as he became the first visiting batter to score 100-plus runs in a session in India. Duckett (19) and Zak Crawley (6) added 31 runs for the opening wicket at tea on the second day. While Crawley later departed for 15, Duckett continued his attacking approach as he notched up his hundred off just 88 balls. The southpaw remained unbeaten on 133 as he went on to score 114 runs in the final session to help England finish the day on 207/2.

MS Dhoni | 109 vs Australia | Chennai, 2013

Former India captain MS Dhoni features third on the list for the most runs scored in a session in India. During the first Test of Australia’s tour of India in 2013, MS Dhoni slammed 109 runs in the third session on Day 3 at the M. A. Chidambaram in Chennai. While Dhoni was batting at 97 at tea on Day 3, the hard-hitting batter then amassed 109 runs in the final session to record his maiden double century in his international career. He remained unbeaten on 206 at stumps. Dhoni was later dismissed on 224 on Day 4 as India posted 572 in reply to Australia’s 380. The visitors were bundled out for 241 in their second innings. India later chased down the target in 11.3 overs to win the Chennai Test by eight wickets.

Photo credit: Alamy

The India vs South Africa rivalry is one of the most captivating contests in Test cricket. 

India and South Africa played their first Test match against each other in November 1992. Led by captain Mohammad Azharuddin, the Indian cricket team first toured South Africa for a four-match series. The hosts were captained by Kepler Wessels. South Africa clinched the four-match Test series 1-0.

In November 1996, the Hansie Cronje-led South Africa cricket team travelled to India for their first Test series. Under the leadership of Sachin Tendulkar, the hosts bagged the three-match Test series 2-1.

Since then, India and South Africa have faced each other in 43 Tests so far. The Proteas have won 18 of those Tests, while India have secured 15 victories. As many as 10 matches have ended in draws.

Both sides have registered numerous records during their epic battles in cricket’s longest format and here we take a closer look at some of those India vs South Africa Test records and stats.

India vs South Africa Test records and stats

Highest team total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in India vs South Africa Tests. During the second Test of South Africa’s tour of India in 2010, the hosts recorded a massive total of 643/6d in their first innings at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After bowling out South Africa for 296 in their first innings, the MS Dhoni-led India rode on centuries from Virender Sehwag (165), VVS Laxman (143 not out), MS Dhoni (132 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (106) to post a mammoth total on the board. India then bowled out the visitors for 290 in the second innings to win the Test by an innings and 57 runs.

Lowest team total

The South Africa cricket team registered the lowest team total in this Test fixture. The Dean Elgar-led hosts were bowled out for 55 during the first innings of the second Test against India in Cape Town in 2024. Electing to bat first, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals to record their lowest-ever Test total against India. Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne was the top-scorer for the Proteas with 15. For India, pacer Mohammed Siraj was the wrecker-in-chief, having bagged six wickets for just 15 runs.

Most runs

Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs in India vs South Africa Tests. Between 1992 and 2011, the right-handed batter amassed 1,741 runs in 25 matches at an average of 42.46. 

Tendulkar slammed seven hundreds and five fifties versus South Africa in his illustrious Test career. His highest score of 169 against the Proteas came during the second Test in Cape Town in 1997. Meanwhile, Jacques Kallis is the highest run-scorer for South Africa, having scored 1,734 runs in 18 Tests at an average of 69.36 against India.

Most wickets

Former India captain Anil Kumble has picked up the most wickets in this Test fixture. The former leg spinner bagged 84 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 31.79 against South Africa between 1992 and 2008. 

Kumble scalped three four-wicket hauls and as many fifers against the Proteas in Test cricket. For South Africa, Dale Steyn is the top wicket-taker in this fixture with 66 wickets in just 14 Tests at an average of 21.53.

Highest individual score

Former swashbuckling opening batter Virender Sehwag holds the record for the highest individual score in India vs South Africa Tests. Sehwag scored 319 off just 304 balls during the first Test of South Africa’s tour of India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in 2008. 

Sehwag’s triple ton was laced with 42 fours and five sixes. The knock helped India post 627 in their first innings after bowling out the Proteas for 540. While South Africa scored 331/5d in their second innings, the match ended in a draw.

Best bowling figures

Lance Klusener registered the best bowling figures in an innings in India vs South Africa Tests. The former all-rounder finished with figures of 8/64 during the fourth innings of the second Test of South Africa’s tour of India in 1996. Klusener’s sensational spell powered South Africa to a 329-run victory at the Eden Gardens. 

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match in this fixture. The India off-spinner scalped 12 wickets in the Nagpur Test during South Africa’s tour of India in 2015. India won the third Test of the series by 124 runs.

Highest partnership

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis hold the record for the highest partnership in India vs South Africa Tests. The South African duo stitched a 340-run stand for the third wicket against India in their first innings of the Nagpur Test in 2010. 

Hashim Amla remained unbeaten on 253 while Jacques Kallis was dismissed for 173. The incredible partnership helped South Africa post 558/6d in their first innings. India were bowled out for 233 and 319 in their two innings as they lost the Test by an innings and six runs.

Photo credit: Alamy

Boxing Day Test matches are cricket matches that are typically held on December 26, a day after Christmas, in Commonwealth nations Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. But, the most popular one takes place at Australia’s iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

There are many reasons as to why December 26 is called Boxing Day. While one states that the date got the name because alms boxes were traditionally opened in churches on the day, others state that servants were given presents on December 26 for working on Christmas Day.

With Boxing Day also celebrated as the feast day of St Stephen, the patron saint of horses, December 26 sees numerous sporting events held across the Commonwealth nations falling under the Southern Hemisphere.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa reserve the day for teams who visit them during the summer months of December, January, and February.

Boxing Day Test matches: History and popularity

The history of Boxing Day matches dates to 1892 when Victoria and New South Wales clashed at the MCG in a Sheffield Shield match over the Christmas period. December 26 was, however, just one of the scheduled playing days and not the starting date of that match.

The first Boxing Day Test match was played during the 1950�?1 Ashes Test series. That year, the Melbourne Test was played from December 22 to 27, through Christmas, with the fourth day falling on Boxing Day. Australia won a thriller by just 28 runs.

After South Africa’s tour of Australia in 1952, there were no Boxing Day Test matches held from 1953 until 1966. Test matches on Boxing Day resumed in 1967, against India, but it was held at the Adelaide Oval and started on December 23.

The Boxing Day Test match returned to the MCG the following year against the West Indies, and it started on its traditional date but the subsequent years, the calendar remained erratic. Either the traditional day was skipped, ended on the said day or was held at the Adelaide Oval.

However, it wasn’t until 1980 that the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Australian cricket board decided to secure the rights and begin an annual tradition of a Test match on Boxing Day at the MCG.

Prior to that, the MCG had seen only four Test matches between 1952 and 1980, held in 1968, 1974 and 1975. Adelaide held three Boxing Day Test matches as well, in 1967, 1972 and 1976.

The 1975 Boxing Day Test match, where the Australian cricket team had defeated a Clive Lloyd-led West Indies team by eight wickets, had gained iconic status with nearly 85,000 visitors at the MCG on the first day.

However, the highest footfall was recorded during the 2013 Boxing Day Test between Australia and England, where the MCG saw 91,112 visitors.

The Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has produced several memorable moments over the years. It was in 1985 when Aussie legend Steve Waugh made his Test debut and in 1988, West Indies speedster Malcolm Marshall picked up his 300th career Test wicket. In 1994, spin wizard Shane Warne recorded a hat-trick against England and in 2006, again facing the English, picked up his 700th Test wicket.

It was even a witness to ugly incidents, like in 1995 when umpire Darrell Hair no-balled Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan seven times in three overs for allegedly chucking the ball.

Pace ace Brett Lee also made his Test debut on Boxing Day against the Indians in 1999, picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

In 1989, the only ever Boxing Day ODI was played out between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Indian cricket team in Boxing Day Test matches in Australia

The Indian cricket team had first played Australia in a Boxing Day Test in 1985 and have been frequent visitors to the MCG since. India have been part of the Boxing Day Test nine times - in 1985, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2020.

However, India have lost five times, won two and drawn twice in their eight Boxing Day Test matches.

The Indian centurions in Melbourne are Virender Sehwag (1), Virat Kohli (1), Ajinkya Rahane (2) and Sachin Tendulkar (1).

India’s record in Boxing Day Tests in Australia