Anshuman Gaikwad is a name that will forever be remembered in the annals of Indian cricket history. On November 11, 1987, he achieved one of the greatest feats of batting in the history of Test cricket – batting for 11 hours and scoring the slowest double century of the Test. This remarkable performance against Pakistan remains one of the most talked-about innings in the game.
Anshuman Gaikwad’s Epic Test Match
The match was the second Test of the three-match series between India and Pakistan in 1987. India had won the first Test match and were looking to seal the series with a win in the second match. The match was being played at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.
Double Century Achieved After 11 Hours
On the fourth day of the match, Gaikwad came out to bat with India in a precarious position at 166/4. What followed was a marathon innings that lasted 11 hours and saw Gaikwad score a double century. His innings of 205* was the slowest double century in Test cricket, with a strike rate of just 18.6.
The Slowest Double Century in Test Cricket
Gaikwad’s double century was the slowest double century ever scored in Test cricket. The innings saw him score just 205 runs off 11 hours of batting, with a strike rate of just 18.6. He faced a total of 567 balls and scored just 11 boundaries in the entire innings.
The Match Against Pakistan
The match was a closely-fought contest between the two sides. Pakistan batted first and scored a total of 442, with opener Salim Yousuf scoring an impressive century. India then responded with a total of 473, thanks to Gaikwad’s double century. Pakistan then scored a second innings total of 380, setting India a target of 348 to win.
Gaikwad’s Batting Performance
Gaikwad’s performance in the match was nothing short of remarkable. Coming in to bat in a tricky situation, he managed to bat for 11 hours to score a double century. His innings of 205* was the slowest double century in Test cricket, with a strike rate of just 18.6.
The Aftermath of the Match
India went on to win the match by 5 wickets, thanks to Gaikwad’s double century. The match was hailed as one of the greatest Test matches played between India and Pakistan, and Gaikwad’s innings was the highlight of the
