The latest issue of Wisden Cricket Monthly includes a special feature on the 12 greatest individual performances across a Test series. One of those was Imran Khan’s sensational effort against India in 1982/83 when – faced with a fierce rival, both individual and collective – he raised his game to unprecedented heights.

The 1980s was the era of the all-rounders, when a handful of magnificent cricketers – Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee – did battle for their countries and also, let’s face it, against each other. When these supermen were on opposite sides, there was an added element to the contest, the four of them straining every sinew to come out on top.

These days it’s hard to imagine an Indian playing Test cricket against a Pakistani (2007 was the last time) but Imran and Kapil faced each other in the longest format on 23 occasions. In those games, Imran scored over 1,000 runs at an average of more than 50 (against Kapil’s 900-odd at 30), and took 94 wickets costing 24 each, against Kapil’s 84 at 32. Indeed, in head-to-heads with each of his major rivals, Imran had a superior record.

Over the next three Tests Pakistan’s batsmen were relentless, piling up huge totals on flat tracks. They scored 3,058 runs for the loss of just 50 wickets across the series, averaging a ludicrous 61.16 per wicket. India seemed to have the necessary batting firepower to respond but simply had no answer to Imran.

He was at the peak of his powers, conventional and reverse swing coming at will and at high pace. His approach was hypnotic, the run-up seemingly starting level with third or fourth slip, his upper body leaning forward as if he were running into a slight headwind, strides steadily lengthening as he approached the crease, any resultant dismissal – and there were plenty – barely celebrated.

By the end of the series, Imran had picked up 88 wickets in 13 Tests as captain. In 1982 alone, he took 62 wickets at 13.29, the lowest average of any bowler to take at least 50 wickets in a calendar year. His battle with Kapil, and with India, had been conclusively won.