India played its first-ever Test match at Old Trafford in 1936
Trailing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy by 2-1, having lost two games and won one, India moves to the next venue, i.e., Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, for the fourth Test match.
Unfortunately, Old Trafford is not a happy hunting ground for India, as the team has never registered a Test victory at the stadium, despite playing nine games.
Even in terms of personal achievements, the players do not hold many records to boast about. For example, no Indian player has ever scored more than 250 runs at Old Trafford. Yes, India has indeed played only nine matches so far, and for generations, players have only had limited opportunities. Not to forget, India’s last game in Manchester was in 2014, 11 years ago.
Nonetheless, it is still a batting stat that must be discussed before the game-take a look at the top Indian scorers in Test at Old Trafford.
The Little Master played for India from 1971 to 1982, during which he made three appearances at Old Trafford, playing five innings. In those five innings, Sunil Gavaskar scored 242 runs, including a highest score of 101 runs-this means in the remaining four innings, Gavaskar scored the remaining 142 runs. He averaged 48.40 at a strike rate of 41.58.
Let us revisit the pre-independence era. Vijay Merchant was one of the first Indian players to play a Test match at Old Trafford. His numbers were impressive given he played only two games, scoring a massive 225 runs at a strike rate of 56.25. In the first match that India played against England at Old Trafford in 1936, Merchant, along with Mushtaq Ali, was instrumental in securing a draw for India from the verge of defeat.
India’s former captain Mohammad Azharuddin played only one game and two innings at Old Trafford. And in that one game, Azharuddin scored 179 runs in one inning and got out for 11 in another, registering an average of 95.00 and a strike rate of 72.24.
For Sachin Tendulkar, Old Trafford is an incredibly special ground. After all, this is where Tendulkar scored his maiden Test century in what was his ninth Test match. Sachin had scored three fifties before the ninth game, but he was desperate for a 100. In 1990, he scored 119 in one innings and 68 in another, which helped India secure a draw against England. The Master Blaster got to play only one match at Old Trafford.
Syed Mushtaq Ali played two matches and four innings at this venue, scoring 172 runs. Out of 172, 112 runs were scored in India’s first match at Old Trafford in 1936. As mentioned in the sixth paragraph, Vijay Merchant's 112 and a century helped India draw the game against England in 1936.
