Nobody would have forgotten the day when India was all-out for 36 against Australia in Adelaide. Especially the home team has had very little to remember from the remainder of the tour as Indians threaded a comeback that’s never been witnessed in the history of Test cricket.
Anyways, here we are to talk about the 36 that still haunts Indian batters whenever they walk in for any second innings. Remember Indian batting attack included some of the modern-day longer-format greats in the lineup, namely, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara. And it was in Adelaide, where India has had fond memories to live up to, then! Now there is only the number 36 to remember from Adelaide. At least, the opponents will keep that day on Indians’ minds forever.
Talking about the Adelaide Test, here are the ten lowest team scores in the history of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. And without a doubt, the list starts with 36.
| TEAM | TOTAL | OVERS | INNS | VENUE | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 36 | 21.2 | 3 | Adelaide | 2020 |
| Australia | 93 | 30.5 | 4 | Wankhede | 2004 |
| India | 104 | 41.3 | 1 | Wankhede | 2004 |
| India | 105 | 40.1 | 2 | Pune | 2017 |
| India | 107 | 33.5 | 4 | Pune | 2017 |
| India | 110 | 38.1 | 4 | Adelaide | 1999 |
| Australia | 112 | 35.4 | 4 | Bengaluru | 2017 |
| Australia | 131 | 67.0 | 3 | Hyderabad | 2013 |
| Australia | 137 | 53.5 | 3 | Dharamsala | 2017 |
| India | 140 | 56.0 | 4 | Perth | 2018 |
Key Stats
India’s 104 in Wankhede is the lowest team total in any BGT match played in the home venue. To everyone’s surprise, India won that game thanks to the wrapping up of the tourists for their lowest BGT score of 93 in the 4th innings of the same game. And that is why the head-to-head stats of India vs Australia are interesting. It is filled with comebacks, dramas, and exciting sledges to look back for.
So, 104 by India is the lowest yet winning score in the list above.
Another Test match to rub off from the mind of Indians came in the year 2017 in Pune when they weakly cobbled up 105 and 107 back-to-back in the same Test match. Despite a losing start to the series, India returned strongly to win that series 2-1.
Before India’s 93 in the Wankhede in 2004, Adelaide (again!) stood as the venue to hold on to the lowest BGT score of 110 that Indians scored in a 1999 Test match.
India also scored 58 and 67 and Australia 83 in the Tests between them. But those were long back before their clashes were named Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India wrapped up in 21.2 overs in Adelaide is also the shortest time any side would have batted in a completed innings in any BGT match.
Read: Leading Run-Scorers and Wicket-Takers in BGT History
