The Indian Team has had a rut in winning any major trophies in world events. Their problems were expected to stop in the World Test Championship 2023 Final against Australia, however, that did not happen as the opposition dominated the game throughout. The Indian Team lost the prestigious WTC final for the second time in a row.
The Kangaroos set a big target of 444 runs for India to chase after some excellent efforts in both innings. The target turned out to be too big for them. It would have been India’s biggest run chase in Test cricket history if they had succeeded. Meanwhile, here are some of India’s most successful run chases in Tests.
3. 329/7 vs Australia, Brisbane, 2021
This chase is one of the most recent and memorable ones. It holds iconic status and stands out as an incredibly motivational 4th innings chase that you could ever witness. The setting was a formidable one, with India facing a full-strength Australian team at their stronghold in Brisbane, with the series hanging in the balance. To add to the challenges, India had to contend with fielding a second-string side due to injuries and the unavailability of key players.
After the Australians set a target of 329 runs, India embarked on their batting innings on the fifth day. The team got off to a blazing start, courtesy of Shubhman Gill’s outstanding score of 90+. Pant and Pujara then ensured that India’s chances of losing were eliminated, but it was Pant who emerged as the hero of the match. His unbeaten 89 runs played a crucial role in India’s victory, which they achieved during the final hour of the fifth day.
2. 387/4 vs England, Chennai, 2008
Boosted by an exceptional performance from Andrew Strauss, England gained a 77-run lead in the first innings against India. In the second innings, England declared and set a daunting target of 387 runs for the Indian team. India’s opener Virender Sehwag delivered an astonishing display of batting, scoring 83 off just 68 balls, with Gautam Gambhir providing valuable support with his impressive 66.
Despite a minor collapse, Sachin Tendulkar played a remarkable innings, remaining unbeaten with 103 runs, while Yuvraj Singh contributed an unbeaten 85, completing a memorable chase for India. This chase was even more memorable since Chennai isn’t the easiest wicket to bat.
1. 406/4 vs West Indies, Port of Spain, 1976
Arguably one of cricket’s greatest chases, this historic feat seemed highly unlikely for India. Falling behind by 131 runs in the first innings of the Test match, not many believed India could secure a victory. The declaration by West Indies captain Clive Lloyd set an enormous target of 403 runs for India to get.
However, the Indian batsmen rose to the challenge, with Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath both scoring centuries. Mohinder Amarnath’s 85 and Brijesh Patel’s unbeaten 49 further solidified India’s highest successful chase in Test cricket, rewriting the record books on that memorable day. This remarkable achievement also ranks as the fourth-best run chase in the history of Test cricket.