- July 9, 2025
Lord’s. Just saying the name. That is half the excitement. It is a place where everything seems to be worth more; every run, every wicket seems to be more of a drama! And for Indian cricket fans, there is a sort of romance, especially when one of our players takes to the hallowed turf! With India about to take on England at Lord’s in the 2025 third Test, it is a good time to reflect and look back at three of the most memorable knocks.
Sourav Ganguly’s Elegant Arrival – 131 (1996)
Sourav Ganguly’s Elegant Arrival – 131 (1996)
Let’s keep it real—there are debuts, and then there is this. Walking out at Lord’s, under pressure, and on the heels of lofty expectations, a young Sourav Ganguly made one of the most elegant debuts in Test cricket history. India had already lost the first Test in the 1996 series, and the team was in desperate need of some inspiration.
From the start, he took guard, and Ganguly looked in total control. This 131 was a masterclass in timing and placing 20 boundaries with hardly a fuss but maximum class. And the pièce de résistance? The fact that he was involved in a critical stand of 94 runs with another debutant cricketer, Rahul Dravid, who would also come tantalizingly close to his ton with 95 runs.
Rahul’s Timeless Tune at Lord’s – 129 Runs of Pure Class
Rahul’s Timeless Tune at Lord’s – 129 Runs of Pure Class
Now let’s jump forward almost nine years to an altogether different time—2021, to be precise. New ball, new bowlers, new challenges, but what remained the same? India wants to dominate at Lord’s. KL Rahul took the platform, played with a blend of patience and poise, and superbly responded to the challenge.
On a slightly overcast Day 1, with not-so-dull ball movement in combination with a noisy crowd, England decided to bowl first again. India started well with an opening partnership of 126 runs featuring Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, but it was Rahul who was on the opposition’s throat. His 129 from 250 balls was a disciplined innings, which included a skillful leave, a crisp drive, and applied and absorbed pressure as it mounted.
He batted the whole first day, would go to stumps on 127, and while he fell early on the second morning, he had done his job. India made 364, and Rahul’s century was the foundation of a famous 151-run victory. It was gritty, it was classy, and it came at a time when India needed it most.
The Lord of Lord’s – Vengsarkar’s Unbeaten 126 That Made History
The Lord of Lord’s – Vengsarkar’s Unbeaten 126 That Made History
Before Prince Rahul charmed it and Dada waved his shirt, Vengsarkar owned Lord’s like it was a family estate. He scored a century at Lord’s once, and then a second time, but walked away with not one, but three. Of these three, however, the 126 not out from 1986 lived one big different aspect from the others—it came in a match that India won.
England batted first and scored 294. India needed a player who could anchor the innings, and luckily for India, Vengsarkar came through. It was not a circus inning; it was a tough inning. With ice in his veins and a plan in his head, he carried India home and walked off without a scratch. With a vintage knock of 69, Amarnath stitched class into the scoreboard as India rolled to 341.
With Kapil Dev and Maninder Singh rocking England in the 2nd innings, India only had to chase a modest target of 134. Vengsarkar once again was the top scorer in the chase with a calm 33 and sealed the most memorable, historic win by five wickets.
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