Can India Shock New Zealand? Full List Of Lowest Test Totals Successfully Defended By India

India were immediately on the back foot in Bengaluru when they were bowled out for 46 on day two, with no play possible on day one due to rain. It was their lowest-ever Test total on home soil, and their problems were compounded when New Zealand scored 402 in their first innings. Rachin Ravindra scored his second Test century to give New Zealand a 365-run first innings lead.

However, India wrestled back the initiative in their second innings. Rohit Sharma scored a brisk half-century before Virat Kohli came in at first drop and looked fluent for his 70. He was dismissed off the final ball of the day on day three by Glenn Phillips with India still 121 runs behind. On day four, Sarfaraz took charge of the match, scoring his maiden Test century and converting it a 150. Rishabh Pant also starred with 99, dismissed one ball short of a remarkable century after he spent the majority of day three off the field with an injured knee.

After they were both dismissed, India’s lower-order couldn’t put on the runs that would give India a decent total to defend in the second innings. They were bowled out for 462, setting New Zealand a target of 107. Only four balls of the final innings were possible on the evening of day four before a heavy downpour brought an end to the day’s play.

If India are to defend 107 on day five and take a 1-0 lead in the series, it would be their joint-lowest ever total defended in the fourth innings. India previously defended 107 against Australia in 2004 in a low-scoring affair. Having been bowled out for 104 in the first innings, Australia were all out for 203 before India responded with 205 – Michael Clarke taking 6-9. However, thanks to a five-for from Harbhajan Singh in the final innings, Australia collapsed to 93, handing India the win by 13 runs.

While that’s the lowest total India have so far successfully defended in Tests, they also defended a sub-150 once more, against Australia in 1980/81. In that match, India conceded a first-innings deficit of 182 before they set a target of 143 thanks to a 165-run opening partnership between Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan. A five-for from Kapil Dev then routed Australia for 83 in the fourth innings, giving India a comfortable in the end 59-run win.

Full list: Lowest Test totals successfully defended by India

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