Imran joins the elite

Imran Khan was in unstoppable form against India, collecting 40 wickets in six Tests © Wisden Cricket Monthly

Imran Khan, Pakistan v India, Faisalabad 1982-83
Imran Khan is commonly regarded as Pakistan's greatest cricketer and it's a title earned with performances such as his stunning allround contribution at Faisalabad in 1982-83. He had only been captain in four previous Tests, but this was a true example of leading from the front as he became the second player, after Ian Botham, to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test.

After winning the toss on a well-grassed pitch Imran sent Sunil Gavaskar's India into bat and was immediately at the forefront of the action. He'd already taken 8 for 60 in the second Test and his first of 11 scalps this time around was Dilip Vengsarkar. He then won the opening foray with Gavaskar, having him caught by Saleem Malik, as India slipped to 22 for 3.

India's middle order responded in defiant style, especially Sandeep Patel who crashed 84 off 99 balls. He added 98 with Kapil Dev before Imran intervened again with two quick wickets, including Patel off the last ball of the second session. Still, though, India countered as Syed Kirmani and Madan Lal added 122 but Imran finally claimed two more, ending the innings on 372 off 85.3 overs, a fantastic scoring rate it what was often a turgid era.

However, Imran wasn't the only great allrounder on display and one of his chief adversaries, Kapil, kept India in the hunt with early wickets. When Zaheer Abbas fell for a scorching 176-ball 168, Pakistan were 367 for 5 and India had the chance of keeping the lead to manageable proportions. That was until Imran strode in. During an audacious display of stroke making, albeit against a weak Indian bowling attack, he carried the match firmly away from the Indians. The sixth-wicket stand with Malik added 207 - Imran's contribution a fire-cracking 117 off 121 balls with nine fours and five sixes before finally becoming the first Test wicket of a 17-year-old Maninder Singh.

Facing a deficit of 280 India's only hope was survival and, thanks to Gavaskar's unbeaten 127, they gave it a fair shot. But there was no stopping Imran, who by now was on another tour-de-force. A fourth-wicket stand of 145 between Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath was troubling Pakistan, but early on the final morning Imran broke through and trapped Amarnath lbw.

Resistance was minimal from there on, Imran bagging three more to end with 5 for 82 off 30.5 overs. Pakistan needed just seven to win and duly took a 2-0 series lead. A modest Imran claimed his second Man of the Match in two Tests and said he was "extremely happy" with the performance. A master of understatement.

How it was reported
The 1984 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack said, "Imran...bowled with such venom and fire that no Indian batsman other than Mohinder Amarnath faced him with any confidence."

What happened next
Pakistan stormed to another victory in the fourth Test, by an innings and 119 runs, with Imran adding eight more wickets to his series tally. The final Test ended in a damp draw at Lahore, but Imran had time to claim two final scalps and lift his series tally to 40.