Although India did not win the match, the game marked the arrival of India’s greatest batter ever
A loss, be it in cricket or other places, inflicts pain. However, in our booking of thoughts, a draw is more devastating. After all the effort, the game ended without a conclusion.
India, having played its first Test at Old Trafford in 1936, has only tasted defeats and draws at England’s iconic stadium. However, one match we believe went in India’s favour. No, India did not win, but it gained something greater than a win.
Another year from India Test cricket history, another draw in England—India had won the ODI series by 2-0, but the Test series went in England’s favour. India could not win a game but drew two. However, England, with one victory, secured the series.
The first Test match of the series was an absolute disaster for the visiting boys. England, the host, had rubbed India’s nose in dirt with a victory by 247 runs.
India needed a turnaround, but the team’s second game was at Old Trafford, a stadium where India has never won a Test match, even to this day. In short, India had little hope but still carried the spirit into the second game.
With England batting first, the ambience quickly turned gloomy for the Indian side, as bowlers failed to control the English batters. Five hundred nineteen runs were put on the board in the first innings, and India had to enter the pitch with a sulked face.
India’s turmoil continued as the top order fell quickly, but after several heartbreaks, Sanjay Manjrekar, with his 95, and a 179 from Mohammad Azharuddin tried to salvage the innings.
A young Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, playing his ninth Test match with three Test fifties to his name, also joined the bandwagon—Tendulkar scored 68. However, despite the efforts by the three batters, India only managed 432.
In the second innings, India managed to halt England at 320, but once again, the Indian batting line-up faltered. That’s when a young Tendulkar stepped on the pitch and scored 119 runs in 189 balls at a strike rate of 62.96.
Tendulkar could not win the game for India but ensured a draw. His knock earned him claps from the English players and the crowd at Old Trafford. That day, India did not win the game but found a player who became the game’s greatest batsman, setting numerous records.
Tendulkar ended his career with a strong Test record in England. The former cricketer from Mumbai played 32 Test matches in England, scoring 2,535 runs at an average of 51.73. He also scored four centuries in England with a highest score of 193 runs.
