Which is the slowest Test century by an Indian? (01 June 2001)

Having agreed to be Zimbabwe's maiden Test opponents in October 1992, the Indians were caught blissfully unawares by the adverse turn of events at the Harare Sports Club. Zimbabwe batted out the first two and a half days to post an imposing 456 and the visitors, who blithely came into the game without a single warm-up behind them (apart from a one-day knockabout), slumped to 101/5, in distinct danger of being inflicted with the embarrassment of a follow-on. It was at such a pregnant moment that Sanjay Manjrekar chose to rescue his team with a typically dogged display.

The 27-year-old inched his way to his fourth Test century late on the fourth day. By the time Manjrekar was eighth out early on the final morning, India had staved off the impending danger of a follow-on. Having spent eight hours and 20 minutes to herald the landmark, Manjrekar's painstaking effort went into the record books as the slowest Test century by an Indian. Indeed only four other batsmen have produced more leisurely tons: Mudassar Nazar, Jackie McGlew, Asanka Gurusinha and Jeff Crowe in that order. In 15 subsequent Tests, Manjrekar would never again make a hundred.

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