Which is India's best ever series win at home?

[Harsh Thakor]

Here I am ranking the best performances ever by India to win a home series,in order of merit.I am taking into account the strength of the opposition ,margin of victory and experience of opponents in the sub-continent.



1.Versus Pakistan in 1979-80 .
2.Versus Australia in 2001
3.Versus South Africa in 2015-16.
4.Versus Australia in 1998
5.Versus South Africa in 1996-97





I may sound biased or irrational but the one that comes 1st to my mind is the 2-0 win over Pakistan in 1979-80 in a 6 match series.Pakistan literally looked invincible with batsmen like Zaheer ,Javed,Majid and Asif and bowlers like Imran .Arguably a team on par with the then West Indies and Australian teams.No pundit gave India the remotest chance with the immense batting depth and reserves of talent of Pakistan.Reminsident of a dear confronting a tiger However India triumphed against all odds to conquer the old adversary.It won by thumping margins in Mumbai and Madras .The all-round prowess of Kapil Dev was India's trump card in addition to the crafty spin of Dilip Doshi and the consistency of Gavaskar. Rated above India's triumphs against Australia in 2001 considering the margin of victory and the number of tests.


Just behind in 2nd is India beating Australia 2-1 after literally ressurecting themselves from the grave at Kolkata to reach the pinnacle of glory.Before the rear guard action of Laxman and Dravid India were totally in the woods with no light appearing at the end of the tunnel.In the final test India won a thriller at Chennai.Thus India broke the jinx of Australian invincibility after they had won a record 16 consecutive tests.


India broke South Africa's unboken run of not losing a single series overseas for over almost 10 years in 2015-16 banging every possible nail in the coffin to batter their opponents.

 

[Srtfan]

Vs Australia in 2001.

 

[battler]

vs Aus in 2001

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Australia 2001 hands down. No series comes even close.

 

[Bhaijaan]

2001 BG trophy - By far!

Came against arguably the greatest or 2nd greatest ever test side.

Halted the greatest and most unreal 16 test winning streak .

Came from 0-1 behind to win a 3 test series 2-1 is quote phenomenal.

Eden Gardens test saw the greatest ever come back in a test.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Vs Aus in 2001

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

The recent series win against Aus was good too.

If I remember correctly they were 1-0 down and a blessing in disguise injury to Kohli which brought Kuldeep into the side in last test became the deciding factor.

 

[cricketindiafan]

I am sure the 79-80 win vs Pakistan would have been special. Thw two teams were notoriously defensive and played out draws after draws on flat wickets home and away. Pakistan had beaten us 2-0 in Pakistan in the earlier series, were on ascendancy. To beat them 2-0 was a special achievement.

However the comeback win in 2001 against arguably the greatest Test side was something at a totally different level. Was a defining moment for our cricket which put us on the path to being a top team consistently. Nothing can get close to that.

 

[topspin]

Has to be the 2001 series. If I remember correctly it was the second Indian test series I began watching and loved it. Miss the days of such high quality test cricket.

Great memories for the Indian fans watching their team terrorise an ATG Aussie team. Harbhajan and VVS Laxman were amazing in that series.

 

[Mamoon]

Australia, 2001.

The series that made me fall in love with Indian cricket.

 

[Hitman]

Of course our victory against Australia in 2001. No other home series victory of our come even remotely close. It was that series that made VVS Laxman a beloved hero of ours, and he repaid our faith till his retirement. He still remains the best player under crisis I have seen till date.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Australia, 2001.

The series that made me fall in love with Indian cricket.

How can you love Indian cricket as a Pakistani? Respect it sure but love is pushing it.

On topic must be 2001. That was the start of India becoming a top team.

 

[jagatk]

I don't think you find many who won't pick the 2001 series.

 

[MP2011]

Without any doubt, 2001 BG trophy.

 

[MP2011]

In fact this series is contender for one of the best ever test series played.

 

[Buffet]

2001 Aus.

 

[Mamoon]

How can you love Indian cricket as a Pakistani? Respect it sure but love is pushing it.

On topic must be 2001. That was the start of India becoming a top team.

All this rilvarly nonsense means nothing to me. I have great respect and admiration for India as a nation and most of my favourite cricketers of all time are Indians.

 

[Ab Fan]

Just came to do formality. We all know the answer.

Aus, 2001.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Aus 2001, nothing else comes within a 100 mile radius. LOL at OP trying to push it to number 2, just for the sake of opposing a popular notion, a common tactic for old era worshippers.

 

[cricketindiafan]

Aus 2001, nothing else comes within a 100 mile radius. LOL at OP trying to push it to number 2, just for the sake of opposing a popular notion, a common tactic for old era worshippers.

Try arguing against that 79-80 series with my dad and uncles. They’d hear none of it. That series win against Pakistan was first after nearly 30 years.

Current generation of youngsters will rate SA series win much higher. That’s how it goes.

 

[Hasan123]

2001 Australia. The series that changed the mentality and perception of Indian cricket.

 

[austerlitz]

Australia 2001.That was the beginning of the rise of indian cricket.
2001 along with 1971 england are 2 of the most important series wins in indian cricket history.One graduated us from minnows to a test level team,the 2nd began the transformation into the world beaters.

 

[Mp812]

2001 India Australia series

 

[ManFan]

The Space Oddysey Series.

Sir Donald Bradman was anticipating it greatly but passed away.