If the history books are pulled up after finding themselves 2-1 down in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy following the 22-run defeat at Lord’s, India will not be too pleased by their record at the next venue, the fabled Old Trafford in Manchester. Across nine attempts over the last 90 years, India have been defeated four times at the venue, losing twice by margins above 100 runs and twice suffering innings defeats.
Manchester is one of only two Test venues where India have played nine matches without a win. In their last arrival here 11 years ago, an MS Dhoni-led side was reduced to an ignominious innings defeat where India equalled a then record of six ducks in an innings – a dubious low that was crossed by West Indies’ seven ducks in the pink-ball Test against Australia this week.
When Sachin Tendulkar defied the odds at Manchester
Interestingly, Sachin Tendulkar, who shares his name with the rechristened series that is being played between England and India, is the last Indian batter to record a century at Old Trafford.
Featuring in only his second Test in England, Tendulkar, aged 17, defied the odds and expectations to stub the Englishmen with a superb fourth-innings knock that marked his first international hundred.
WATCH: Sachin Tendulkar’s first international hundred – Manchester 1990
Set a daunting target of 408 with a little more than a day’s play left, India were four down for 109 when Tendulkar walked out and cracked his maiden century. Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 119 off 189 deliveries, his innings studded with 17 fours during 225 minutes at the crease. India went onto make 343 for six in 90 overs, salvaging a draw from a tricky passage of play before Tendulkar entered to display his exceptional talent and maturity.
The match, which also marked the Test debut for Anil Kumble, had six centuries in total, but is best remembered for Tendulkar’s stoic ton, which earned him the Player of the Match award. Interestingly, India have only played once at Old Trafford in the 21st century. During their 2014 visit, India suffered horrendous batting collapses, tallying only 152 and 161 in two innings.
Before Tendulkar and then skipper Mohammed Azharuddin’s century in the 1990 Test, India have had only six other centuries in seven matches at Old Trafford.
Indian batters to score century at Old Trafford, Manchester
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| Player | Runs | Ground | Start Date |
| Vijay Merchant | 114 | Manchester | 25 Jul 1936 |
| Syed Mushtaq Ali | 112 | Manchester | 25 Jul 1936 |
| Polly Umrigar | 118 | Manchester | 23 Jul 1959 |
| Abbas Ali Baig | 112 | Manchester | 23 Jul 1959 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | 101 | Manchester | 6 Jun 1974 |
| Sandeep Patil | 129* | Manchester | 24 Jun 1982 |
| Mohamed Azharuddin | 179 | Manchester | 9 Aug 1990 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 119* | Manchester | 9 Aug 1990 |
