OTD: Sunil Gavaskar's historic 221-run knock saved India against England at The Oval

At that time, it was a near impossible task to do. Sunil Gavaskar narrowly missed one of the biggest upsets in Indian cricket history. When India needed 438 runs, Gavaskar played a 221-run knock against all odds.

In their home ground, at The Oval, England was easily the favorite team to win the game, especially when they had bowlers like Bob Willis, Ian Botham, and Mike Hendrick. England got the advantage they were looking for when Team India batted poorly in the first innings against England's first innings of 305. In reply, the touring team was able to register only 202 runs on the board.

In the following innings, the host nation scored 334 runs for 8 wickets and set 438 runs as the target for India to win the match. The first three batters of India's batting order started the run chase strongly, as Chetan Chauhan got 80 and Dilip Vengsarkar struck a 52-run innings.

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India was only 10 runs away 

But it was the 'little master,' Sunil Gavaskar, who was on a mission to pull out one of the most astonishing wins in the history of cricket. Only for a few inches, England found itself in the safe zone. The hard-fought match settled for a draw. If India were able to score 10 more runs, then the result of the match would be different. To create the fighting 221-run innings, Gavaskar faced 443 balls and smashed 21 boundaries. 

Later, recalling the match, Yajurvindra Singh, the Indian No. 7 in the match, said that Gavaskar, then his roommate, said that evening that the wicket was so good that India was in with a chance. 

England vs India, 4th Test, The Oval, August 30 - September 04, 1979:

England: 305 and 334/8d

India: (T:438) 202 & 429/8