The Oval has always been more than just a stadium for Indian cricket—it’s been a proving ground
As the 2025 IND vs. ENG Test series reaches its final stages at The Oval, let's take a stroll down memory lane—where Team India's batters once made this revered ground their stage of dominance. From resilient last-stand efforts to commanding first-innings declarations, these five totals remind us how India has left its imprint in South London, often carrying the weight of history on their blades.
Let's begin with India's highest-ever total at The Oval—664 in the first innings of the 3rd Test in 2007. Opting to bat, the visitors amassed runs with a quiet ferocity. Dinesh Karthik laid the groundwork with 91, before Dhoni's punchy 92 and Anil Kumble's unbeaten 110 helped India surpass the 650 mark.
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It was a feast of runs, with four scores over 50 and more than 900 deliveries faced. Despite James Anderson claiming 4 wickets, England could only watch the clock run down as India outplayed them. The draw felt like a moral victory for the tourists, who had set the tone from the very first ball.
Back in 1990, when the game wasn't driven by strike rates, India dug in deep. Winning the toss, Mohammad Azharuddin's men went on to score 606/9 declared, mainly due to Ravi Shastri's monumental 187 off 436 deliveries. It was a masterclass in application—he held the crease for over 9 hours, grinding the English bowlers into submission.
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England responded with 340 & 477/4 declared. Although the match ended in a draw, the Indian dressing room knew they had silenced The Oval for days.
The 4th Test of the 2002 series saw Rahul Dravid compile a majestic 217 as India posted 508 in their first innings. This was classic Dravid—patient, precise, and punishing at times. His 468-ball innings became the foundation as India matched England's first-innings 515 nearly run for run.
Although the match ended in a draw, this performance demonstrated India's increasing comfort in English conditions. The symmetry of both teams passing 500 highlighted parity—but it was Dravid's century that left a lasting impression.
Ah, the 4th Test of 2021. England led by 99 runs after the first innings, and the hosts looked poised to dominate again. But India fought back vigorously in the second innings, scoring 466, highlighted by Rohit Sharma's exceptional 127.
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Shardul Thakur's twin fifties, Pant's counterattack, and a spirited lower-order contribution put India into the lead. England, needing 368 to win, collapsed for 210. It wasn't just a large total—it was a statement of defiance, one that changed the course of the game and marked India's first win at The Oval in 50 years.
If you're discussing India's finest innings at The Oval, Sunil Gavaskar's masterclass in the fourth innings of the 1979 Test must be included. Chasing a colossal 438, India were written off early. But the "Little Master" had other plans. His 221-run innings brought India to 429/8, just 9 runs short of the target.
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It remains the closest any team has come to chasing a 400+ score in England for decades. While the match ended in a draw, this innings is still remembered—not just for the scoreboard pressure India absorbed, but for the courage it took to chase down the impossible.
