Chasing glory: India’s top 5 successful target chases away from home
No run comes easy at the highest level and the challenge gets even tougher when it comes to Test cricket. The red cherry is much more lethal than the white one. Hence, batters need to be at their best to accumulate runs in this format. The batting conditions are relatively in the initial half with the track being fresh.
However, the pitch gets deteriorated with time and bowlers tend to do the majority of the talking in the latter half of the game. Owing to the same, we have seen teams defending scores of 200 and 150 against potent batting line-ups. Nevertheless, several teams have overcome these challenges and recorded successful run chases not only in the home but overseas Tests. India have also achieved the feat several times.
Here we look at India’s top five fourth-innings successful target chases away from home
233 vs Australia in 2003
Almost two decades before the Brisbane triumph, India tormented Australia in Adelaide. Rahul Dravid stole the show in that contest with not one-two remarkable knocks. He scored a scintillating double century in India’s first innings to dent Australia’s plan. Continuing his sensational run, the talisman scored an unbeaten 72 in the last innings as India won by four wickets.
258 vs Sri Lanka in 2010
With Sri Lanka winning the first Test and the second game ending in a draw, the third and final Test was a do-or-die encounter for India. They were asked to chase 258 on a tricky Colombo track and many didn’t back them to cross the line. However, VVS Laxman had some different ideas and he registered a sensational ton and India won the contest by five wickets.
264 vs Sri Lanka in 2001
It was the second Test of India’s 2001 tour of Sri Lanka and the visitors were asked to chase 264 for victory. Although the openers couldn’t do much, veterans Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid joined forces and took India to a seven-wicket win. Ganguly received the Player-of-the-Match award for his unbeaten 98.
329 vs Australia in 2021
The Moment… #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/v9K5c2kexo
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 19, 2021
Now, who can forget this famous Gabba breach? A depleted Indian team stunned the Aussies and walked away with a three-wicket triumph. Youngsters Shubman Gill (91) and Rishabh Pant (97) were instrumental in taking their side over the line. Not to forget, this Brisbane Test was a series decider.
406 vs West Indies in 1976
This triumph was registered when West Indies were ruling world cricket. It was the third Test of the series and India put up a phenomenal show. Chasing a target of over 400, Indian players put up a batting exhibition in Port of Spain as Caribbean bowlers looked utterly clueless. Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath scored centuries as the visitors registered a six-wicket win.
