VVS Laxman's 281 against Australia at the Eden Gardens in 2001 has been voted the greatest innings by an Indian in a survey by Wisden Asia Cricket magazine.

While I wouldnt rate it at #1, I have to question some of the other choices. Ranked #4, Sehwag's triple century was made against some fairly insipid Pakistani bowling on a flat Multan wicket. Dravid's 270 at Rawalpindi was also under similar circumstances. Yes, both these knocks were historic. But were they great? Umm, not quite. Would they have been in my top 25. Definitely no.

Gavaskar's 220 in 1971 (#10) was made against a West Indian attack which would make some of the current bowling attacks seem like the West Indian attack of the 1980s by comparison (the attack contained Ulton Dowe, of the 'Dowe shalt not bowl' torn apart by Stackpole fame. Yes, Gavaskar did make a century in each innings and this was just his first series. It undoubtedly heralded his arrival on the international stage. But was it great? Umm, not quite.

I dont have any other issues with the rankings, but they did seem a little too skewed in favour of Indian batting achievements in recent times. Six out of the top 25 are innings played after 2000! Much as this Indian team boasts of a top quality batting lineup, six is around three too many. Ten out of the 25 were made in the last 15 years. I find this skewness surprising considering that the judges comprised of former players, commentators, writers etc. who would obviously have seen quite a few performances prior to 2000 as well.