On this day nine years ago, Sourav Ganguly registered the highest ever score by a left-handed batsman for India in Test cricket.
The knock, which came against Pakistan at Bengaluru, saw Ganguly score 239 – the only double century in his international career. It proved to be an important innings in the context of the game as India were reduced to 61/4 at one point on day one.
Ganguly was ably aided by another left-handed batsman in Yuvraj Singh, with the duo putting on 300 runs for the fifth wicket as India would go on to score 626 in their first innings. Irfan Pathan, another left-handed batsman, would also notch up a century in the same innings.
The Test would eventually be drawn, with India winning the series 1-0.
Aside from Ganguly’s memorable double century, there has been some fine contributions from left-handed batsmen in Tests. Here, we look at five of India’s best:
Rank | Player | Score | Opposition | Venue | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sourav Ganguly | 239 | Pakistan | Bengaluru | 2007 |
2 | Vinod Kambli | 227 | Zimbabwe | Delhi | 1993 |
3 | Vinod Kambli | 224 | England | Mumbai | 1993 |
4 | Gautam Gambhir | 206 | Australia | Delhi | 2008 |
5 | Shikhar Dhawan | 187 | Australia | Mohali | 2013 |