Nothing gives more pleasure than a successful run chase in Test cricket. Chasing the target set by the opponent in the 4th innings of a Test match to finish on the winning note is a treasure any captain would like to add to his captaincy career.
The below table will list down the top 10 successful run chases by the Indian cricket team in the history of Test cricket.
| TARGET | OVERS | WICKETS LEFT | VS | VENUE | SEASON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 403 | 147 | 6 | WI | Port of Spain | 1975/76 |
| 387 | 98.3 | 6 | ENG | Chennai | 2008/09 |
| 328 | 97 | 3 | AUS | Brisbane | 2020/21 |
| 276 | 80.4 | 5 | WI | Delhi | 2011/12 |
| 264 | 78.4 | 7 | SL | Kandy | 2001 |
| 261 | 63.2 | 5 | NZ | Bengaluru | 2012 |
| 257 | 68.3 | 5 | SL | Colombo | 2010 |
| 254 | 128.4 | 2 | AUS | Mumbai | 1964/65 |
| 230 | 72.4 | 4 | AUS | Adelaide | 2003/04 |
| 216 | 58.4 | 1 | AUS | Mohali | 2010 |
Stats Insights
The patient knocks from the trio – Sunil Gavaskar (102), Mohinder Amarnath (85), & Gundappa Vishwanath (112), brought India the famous and the highest 4th innings score. What makes this 1976 innings more significant is that it came against one of the greatest Test teams ever – West Indies of the 70s era, at their homeland. This is also India’s third-highest 4th Innings score for India in the longest format.
Gavaskar, in 1979, almost pulled off another historic win for Team India. Chasing 438 against England at The Oval, the little master scored a mighty 221 to help India finish just nine runs short of a historic victory. With this innings, Gavaskar joined a list of elite batsmen who scored 4th innings double century in Tests. He also became the only batsman to score at least one double century in all four innings of Test cricket.
The highest 4th Innings chase in home Tests came against England in 2008, when India scored 387/4 in Chennai. Sachin scored an unbeaten century in that innings, whereas the MoM performer Virender Sehwag scored 83.
The latest entry to this table was at Brisbane in 2021 January when Ajinkya Rahane-led Indian team wraps the series 2-1 with the 4th innings score of 329 for 7. Check here Rahane’s incredible captaincy record in all formats.
Team India, in total, has 5 successful 200+ chase against Australia in Tests – their best among the opposition countries.
India’s first 200+ chase in Test cricket came in 1964 against Australia, scoring 256/8 to defeat the visitors at the Brabourne Stadium (Mumbai).
