From Merchant to Tendulkar, five iconic innings that lit up the grey skies of Old Trafford with Indian brilliance
Old Trafford isn’t always kind. The weather changes abruptly, the pitch can be unpredictable, and the crowd might turn cold. But for several Indian batters over generations, this very ground became a stage, where they didn’t just endure the conditions, they mastered them.
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As the fourth Test of the 2025 India-England series will return in Manchester, it’s the ideal time to look back and celebrate five innings that stood firm against the English challenge.
If elegance had a face in Indian cricket, it was Mohammad Azharuddin. In 1990, beneath grey Manchester skies, he produced one of his most majestic innings—179 off 243 balls—in the first innings of the second Test. Facing a massive England total of 519, India had to fight back hard. Azhar walked in at a tricky moment and chose to counter-attack with flair.
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He found boundaries all around the square, threading the ball through the covers and flicking with wristy ease. His 21 fours and one six helped India reach 432, keeping the game alive. England responded with 320/4 declared, setting India 408 to win. Azhar’s solid foundation allowed India to chase with intent, and they finished at 343/6, drawing a gripping match.
In 1982, Sandeep Patil played one of the most courageous innings by an Indian on English soil. England had posted 425 in their first innings. India, replying on a difficult pitch, needed someone to anchor. Patil came in and remained unbeaten on 129 off 196 balls, hitting 18 fours and 2 sixes, and refused to throw it away.
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His innings took India to 379/8, ensuring a hard-fought draw. In an era where batting in England was a challenge, Patil’s fluent shot selection and sharp footwork stood out. His century earned him the Player of the Match, and rightly so — it was an innings that kept India together when the cracks had begun to show.
Just days after Azhar’s 179, the 17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar introduced himself to the world. Chasing a near-impossible target of 408, India faltered. But Sachin, with composure beyond his years, scored a match-saving 119 not out in the second innings.
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With wickets falling around him, he persisted. No reckless strokes, no signs of nerves. Just pure skill and temperament. His unbeaten innings helped India finish at 343/6, drawing the match.
When India was buried under a mountain of 548 runs in 1959, Polly Umrigar stood tall. England had put up 490 in the first innings and declared again at 265/8, leaving India chasing a nearly insurmountable target.
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The Indian response started poorly, collapsing to 208. In the second innings, Umrigar dug deep and scored 118 off 260 balls, resisting England’s bowlers with discipline. Though India eventually lost by 171 runs, Umrigar’s century helped keep the team afloat longer than expected.
Decades before Manchester became a regular stop on India’s touring schedule, Vijay Merchant made a mark. In 1936, he scored 114 in India’s second innings as they chased England’s 571/8 declared.
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With little support and the clock ticking, Merchant bore the weight of a young team and guided them to 390/5, securing a draw.
