In 116 Test Matches, he averaged 42 (6868 runs).
Away average was 33.
Averaged 47 in matches won (18). 53 in matches won abroad (6).
Averaged 48 in England in 13 tests - the only country he scored heavily in, besides India (averaged 56 in 54 Tests at home) .
Made 17 hundreds and 35 fifties. Not a single hundred outside India or England.
Averaged 29 in Australia, 25 in West Indies, 26 in New Zealand and 34 in Pakistan.
Was at his peak in 1986 (averaged 132 in 8 Tests) and 1987 (averaged 88 in 9 tests).
Batted at no. 3 in 49 Tests averaging 40. At no. 4 in 42 Tests averaging 48. At no. 5 in 25 Tests averaging 50.
Away average was 33.
Averaged 47 in matches won (18). 53 in matches won abroad (6).
Averaged 48 in England in 13 tests - the only country he scored heavily in, besides India (averaged 56 in 54 Tests at home) .
Made 17 hundreds and 35 fifties. Not a single hundred outside India or England.
Averaged 29 in Australia, 25 in West Indies, 26 in New Zealand and 34 in Pakistan.
Was at his peak in 1986 (averaged 132 in 8 Tests) and 1987 (averaged 88 in 9 tests).
Batted at no. 3 in 49 Tests averaging 40. At no. 4 in 42 Tests averaging 48. At no. 5 in 25 Tests averaging 50.
If cricket was only played in India and England, Dilip Vengsarkar would be among the greatest batsmen in Test history. His batting performances in both these countries are the stuff of legend. As are his performances in 1986 and 1987 (it helped that he played only in India and England during these two years) - he certainly was the most successful batsman in the world in that period. Tall, slim and elegant, he could tear an attack apart on his day, both on the front foot and back. On a different day, he could stay at the crease and wear the opposition down, if that's what the team required. Apart from England, however, somehow he did not travel well. This was attributed to a weakness against short-pitched bowling, but it was befuddling how he would perform well against some of those very bowlers on fairly lively pitches back home. His technique was good and guts he did not lack, so it can only be something in the mind that he did not quite fix. There was also a feeling that he sometimes put his personal goals before the team's objective - but then, that was a problem across the board in those times. This apart, Vengsarkar's greatest performances are part of Indian cricket folklore and the heroics he mustered up in the face of adversity every once in a while assures him a place in Indian cricket Royalty.
126* and 33 vs England, Lord's 1986.
| India had been crowned ODI world champions twice in the last four years, but was yet to make any major impact in Tests. In this series opener, India won the toss, sent the English in and had them reeling at 98-4. A fightback by Gooch and Pringle helped them reach 294. India had a steady start -Vengsarkar joined Amarnath at 90-2. They ground the attack and took the score to 161 till Amarnath was dismissed (69). After another small partnership with Azharuddin (33), | wickets began to fall rapidly from the other end. Vengsarkar opened up and showed the full array of his strokes. His unbeaten 126 (with 16 fours, in over 5 hours of batting) took India to 341, which set the tone for this series. England was bowled out for 180, setting India 134 to win its first Test in England in 15 years. At 31-2 there were a few jittery Indians as Vengsarkar walked out. Amarnath was holding his end up but he wasn't being able to score. Vengsarkar decided to rotate the | strike as often as he could. In one hour, his 33 had taken India to 76 and they were breathing easily again. And then, within 2 runs, both were out and the pressure was back. When Azharuddin was run out at 110-5, they seemed to have blown it again. The captain joined Shastri, who was steady at the other end. But Kapil Dev didn't need a calming influence, as he slammed 4 fours and a six (making 23 off 10 balls) and completed the historic win with a flourish. |
61 and 102* vs England, Leeds 1986.
| In the very next Test, Vengsarkar walked out at 75-2 and stayed till 203, top-scoring with 61 (off 153 balls, 6 fours, 1 six). India finished at 272 but then Madan Lal and Roger Binny took four wickets each to dismiss England for 102. The ball was swinging and | India was 35-4 (John Lever in his last Test match had taken 3 of these). Vengsarkar took charge and played perhaps his finest innings technically. In difficult conditions, with wickets falling at the other end, he took control and never relinquished it. By the time | India was dismissed for 237 (Vengsarkar unbeaten on 102 - 216 balls, 10 fours), the match was well past England. They were dismissed for 128, and India won its first Test series abroad after 15 years. |
146* vs Pakistan, Delhi 1979.
| The 2nd Test of a historic tour, still 0-0. Pakistan makes 273 in their first innings. India is sensationally dismissed for 128 (Sikandar Bakht - 8-69). Pakistan comes back with 242 and set India 390 to win in one and a half days. When Gavaskar is dismissed at 37, many are mentally resigned to an Indian defeat. But Vengsarkar, who has | walked out, has other plans. He settles down at an easy rhythm, and keeps the score going without taking any undue risks. At close, India is 117-2, and a thrilling last day is being anticipated. Despite Viswanath's loss next morning, Vengsarkar and Yashpal consolidate and take the score to 276 in three hours. At the latter's dismissal, Kapil Dev | comes out and makes his intentions clear -slamming 21 off 25 balls, but after he is lbw, the momentum goes down again. Vengsarkar tries to force the pace, but is unable to take India home. Still, at 364-6, it is a very respectable draw, and Vengsarkar's unbeaten 146 (370 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) the toast of the nation. |
98* vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 1985.
| Sri Lanka had yet to win a Test match when this series began. But there were signs that could change soon as India were dismissed for 218 in the first innings. Sri Lanka replied with 347, a lead of 129. India was 54-2 when Vengsarkar walked in. With Rajput, he took the score to 130, till Rajput was dismissed for 61. Gavaskar went without scoring and India was effectively 1-4. Shastri came in now, | and provided Vengsarkar with fighting support. At close on the fourth day, India was 24 ahead with 6 wickets in hand; things looked bleak. But next day, Vengsarkar and Shastri continued the fightback, till they reached 180, when Shastri was lbw. Just 51 runs ahead, things looked lost. Kapil Dev and wicketkeeper Vishwanath were both out at 206, and Vengsarkar took full charge. He went about scoring runs | to put distance between the two sides while the tail-enders held on. It was as much about the time they spent as the runs Vengsarkar scored that saved the match finally. Sri Lanka had to get 123 in ten overs, a tall task even today, but they did manage 67-4 in eight. The Sri Lankans would get their first Test victory in the very next match though. |
157 vs England, Lord's 1982.
| After England was 37-3, 97-4 and 166-6 at different stages, it appeared that Indian tour form book had been thrown out of the window. What was this - India dominating in the first Test of an English tour? But sanity was restored via Randall, as England eventually put up 433. True to convention, India was knocked out for 128, with forties from Gavaskar | and Kapil Dev the only double figure contributions. Forced to follow on, 303 behind, this was back to a predictable script again. Vengsarkar walked out at 6-1, and looked in top form from the beginning. Who provided support at the other end, who perished, is a blur - just as well, because it was Vengsarkar all the way - counter-attacking in style, scoring most of the runs. | He made his first hundred at Lord's (there would be two more before his career finished) and the English crowd applauded warmly. Vengsarkar finished with 157 glorious runs out of 252 when he was finally out. Sadly, despite Kapil Dev's heroics, India couldn't save the match. |
