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Xtra Time Web Desk: India has produced numerous prolific openers in its cricketing history but not all of them have managed to be as successful at home as in the SENA countries. Across the decades, India’s touring parties have found it tough, securing only three Test series wins in the country.

Time and again, though, India’s batsmen have put up memorable individual performances: while some were acts of resistance that couldn’t stop the loss, others forced a draw, and a few even set the tone for historic wins.

Ajit Agarkar- Stuck with the misnomer ‘Bombay Duck’ after an embarrassing run of zeroes against Australia, Ajit Agarkar put forth tremendous verve to post his name on the Lord’s honours board for his batting deeds. His 109 from No.8 couldn’t prevent a defeat, but set the tone for India’s subsequent fightback in the series. The gutsy knock, filled with lovely drives to the fence (16 boundaries overall), is still remembered as one of the best surprise counter-attacks by an Indian player.

Virat Kohli- This was, more than anything else, a personal statement of redemption, four years after Kohli’s horrendous showing on the 2014 tour. Armed with a tighter technique, Kohli was unperturbed by the lively Edgbaston crowd and offered up a knock of controlled resistance. He dictated the innings when none of his fellow batsmen crossed 26, and on a forgettable tour for India, stood out as one of the bright spots.

Vinoo Mankad- The 1952 tour began with a horror showing with the bat for India, who were infamously reduced to 0-4 in the first Test. In the following Test, Vinoo Mankad admirably stood up to the English challenge, first scoring 72, and then following it with a knock of 184 (then highest score by an India player in Tests) in the second. The four-and-a-half-hour effort ensured that India didn’t succumb to an innings defeat.

Rahul Dravid- One of only two double-centuries by an India player in England in men’s Tests, Dravid’s 217 was a classy effort, headlining India’s response to the hosts’ mammoth 515. India’s No.3 was on song against England’s four-pronged seam attack (and Ashley Giles), keeping them at bay for over ten hours. Only a run out could end his stay.

Dilip Vengsarkar- Vengsarkar conquered Lord’s on three separate tours, but it is his defiant 157 that truly stands out as one of India’s finest pieces of resistance in Test cricket. When he walked out to bat in the second innings, India, following on, were trailing by 299 runs. Over his next five-and-a-half hours at the crease, Vengsarkar kept England at bay, and in the company of belligerent Kapil Dev at No.8 (89 off 55), helped India avoid an innings defeat.