From Vengsarkar's elegance to Gavaskar's trials, here's how Indian legends etched their names into the Lord's legacy
When India takes the field at Lord's for the third Test on July 10, they'll be stepping onto sacred ground. Lord's isn't just a cricket stadium; it's an institution, a stage of tradition that has challenged the courage of many great players. For Indian cricketers, winning at Lord's has always been a rite of passage - one that separates the promising from the legendary.
Let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit the top five Indian batters with the most Test runs at Lord's, each of whom left behind not only numbers but stories that have endured over time.
If anyone could claim to have truly owned Lord's, it's Dilip Vengsarkar. Between 1979 and 1990, the elegant Mumbaikar appeared in 4 Tests and scored an impressive 508 runs in just 8 innings, maintaining an average of 72.57.
His most memorable innings was in 1986, when he scored a fluent 126 not out, leading India to their first-ever Test win at Lord's. Vengsarkar became the first overseas batter to 3 three consecutive centuries at this revered venue - a feat remembered in gold.
Rahul Dravid's relationship with Lord's began with a debut knock of 95 in 1996 - a heartbreak for fans, a warning shot to the world. In 4 Tests, he scored 354 runs at an average of 59.00, always wearing patience like a badge of honour.
His standout effort came in 2011, when he carried his bat for 103 not out in the second innings, even as wickets tumbled around him.
Sunil Gavaskar, India's first global batting icon, had a nuanced history at Lord's. Despite playing five Tests between 1971 and 1986, he never reached the three-figure mark; yet, his 340 runs reflect a stoic resistance against some of the fiercest English attacks.
His highest score at the venue was a well-crafted 59, but what Gavaskar lacked in spectacle, he made up for in resilience. Gavaskar's doggedness, especially in drawing India's first Test in 1971, remains a watershed moment.
Long before modern heroes graced the balcony at Lord's, Vinoo Mankad illuminated it in the post-war years. In just 2 Tests, he scored 333 runs, averaging a remarkable 83.25. His 184 in 1952 remains one of the finest overseas innings by an Indian.
Opening the innings and facing Fred Trueman and Alec Bedser on seaming pitches, Mankad batted for hours on end. The innings not only saved India from embarrassment but also earned him global respect.
Known for his silken wrists and timeless grace, Gundappa Viswanath was not your typical English-weather batter. Yet, in four Tests at Lord's, he scored 272 runs - including a gutsy 113 in 1979.
Credit: Rediff
That innings, amidst a massive English total of 419, was less about chasing victory and more about restoring pride. His average of 34.00 doesn't tell the whole story, but those who watched remember how excellent he was.
