5 Instances when India were beaten at home in Tests since 2000

4. March 2005 – Younis masterclass and spinners help Pakistan trump India

 First, let’s talk about that heartbreak courtesy a sumptuous double-ton by Younis Khan in the mid-march of 2005! The two countries had only reinstated their cricketing relations a year ago when Sourav Ganguly led his Men in Blue on what eventually turned out to be a victorious tour. India won both the ODI series and the subsequent Test rubber by 3-2 and 2-1 respectively.

So, coming into the return series at home, India were the obvious favourites. And, they proved that with a commanding 195-run win at the Eden Gardens. Rahul Dravid’s twin tons [110 & 135] and Anil Kumble’s seven-wicket haul in the second innings [7-63] helped the hosts take the lead.

It looked like another series win was on the cards for Ganguly’s men against the arch-rivals. But, what’s an Indo-Pak rivalry without a hint of twist and unexpected turns? Deep down every Indian knew that Pakistan would strike back. And they did, courtesy a masterly Younis Khan double-hundred. And the duo of Danish Kaneria and Shahid Afridi out spun their famed counterparts at the Chinnaswamy!

Younis Khan’s best knock

Khan’s 267 helped Pakistan take a 121-run lead after the first innings despite Virender Sehwag‘s equally swashbuckling double-century. However, it was the former’s quickfire 84 backed up brilliantly by Shahid Afridi’s 58 and Yasir Hameed’s 76 that paved way for the visitors to land a killer blow on the Indians. 

Apart from Younis, it was the Pakistani spinners- the likes of Kaneria, Arshad Khan, and Afridi that really made a difference. India’s spin twins Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh returned with the combined figures of 7-434 while the Pakistani trio’s corresponding figures read: 14-324.

On the final day, chasing 382, India needed a special innings from one of their top-order batsmen. But Shahid Afridi, in a dream spell of bowling [3-13],  claimed Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly’s wickets to set-up a 168-run series-levelling win for Pakistan. The Bangalore Test eventually proved to be Sourav Ganguly’s last five-day match as captain.