Key triumphs in India’s journey to the No.1 Test ranking
Second Test v England, Lord's, August 2021
Winning in England is always a tough prospect and, following a draw in the opening match of the series in Nottingham, India needed to show their wares at the Home of Cricket in London.
Experienced duo KL Rahul (129) and Rohit Sharma (83) set the tone with a century opening partnership on the first day of the contest, but England fought back hard on the back of a brilliant 180* from Joe Root in the hosts' first innings.
Thinks looked forlorn for India when they went into the final day leading by just 167 and with four wickets in hand, but Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah added some valuable late-order runs and then backed it up with an impressive bowling performance to skittle England for just 120 on what was an exciting finale to a gripping Test.
First Test v Sri Lanka, Mohali, March 2022
A series loss to South Africa away from home left plenty of question marks surrounding India's form heading into this series against Sri Lanka and a strong performance was required in what was Rohit Sharma's first Test in charge since taking the captaincy reins from Virat Kohli.
Enter Ravindra Jadeja.
The star all-rounder missed that series against South Africa and almost single-handedly took it upon himself to influence the result as he produced a Player of the Match performance in an emphatic India victory.
Jadeja hit a career-best 175* to help India post a massive total of 574/8d and then backed up that effort with nine wickets (5/41 & 4/46) in reply as the hosts cruised to a innings and 222-run victory.
First Test v Bangladesh, Chattogram, December 2022
Jadeja was battling a knee injury heading into this series away from home against an improving Bangladesh side and India required someone to step up in his absence.
It was fellow lefty Kuldeep Yadav that filled the void, with the wrist-spinner collecting eight wickets for the match as India registered a comfortable 188-run triumph.
Top-order batter Cheteshwar Pujara chipped in superbly with scores of 90 and 102* in the rout as India set the tone for a series sweep on the road that moved them closer to the top ranking and a place in the ICC World Test Championship final.
First Test v Australia, Nagpur, February 2023
It was ultimately this home series against Australia that catapulted India past their rival and into the No.1 ranking and it was a vintage team performance that delivered the crucial series opener in Nagpur.
Spin duo Ravindra Jadeja (5/47) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/42) set the tone to dismiss Australia for just 177 on the opening day of the clash and skipper Rohit Sharma (120) led the way in reply as the hosts quickly established their advantage.
Late flurries from Axar Patel (84), Jadeja (70) and Mohammed Shami (37) allowed India to post 400 in their first innings and another polished bowling performance - led by Ashwin's 5/37 - saw Australia skittled for just 91 as the home side clinched the Test with ease.
Second Test v Australia, Delhi, February 2023
Australia faced the prospect of India once again regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy if they didn’t show some fight in the second match of the series in Delhi and Usman Khawaja showed his class with a superb 81 to help the visitors post 263 in their first innings.
India almost matched that as they were all out for 262 in reply on the back of Axar Patel's 74, but the momentum swung completely the way of the hosts on the third morning as Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin ripped through Australia’s brittle batting order.
Ashwin (3/59) did much of the hard work and Jadeja (7/42) reaped the rewards as Australia lost their last seven wickets for just 18 runs to leave India chasing just 115 runs for victory.
They did that with relative ease and the win saw India retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and ensured Rohit's side reached the rankings pinnacle.
