India’s three lowest innings totals in Tests with a century
From Sachin Tendulkar to Virat Kohli, India have produced many prominent batters over the years who ruled world cricket with a willow in hand. Even the best of bowlers have endured a hard time against the Indian team. More often than not, multiple batters of the team clicked and helped India post a potent score. At times, however, only one man stood up from the entire line-up.
Speaking of the longest format of the game, batters have a stern task at hand. The red cherry tends to do more talking than the white one and bowlers have the liberty to go for wickets without worrying much about the scoring rate. Owing to the same, even the best of batting line-ups have suffered batting collapses. Team India is not different. However, there have been some Indian batters who have put up a one-man show in such situations.
Meanwhile, let’s look at India’s three lowest innings totals in Tests with a century in it:
3. 215 vs South Africa in 1992
It was India’s 1992 tour of South Africa and the visitors were having a tough time in the third Test in Port Elizabeth. The hosts, after earning a 63-run lead in the first innings, reduced India to 6/31. The Mohammad Azharuddin–led side was on the verge of an innings defeat. However, all-rounder Kapil Dev had other ideas. The dasher fought like a lone warrior and slammed South African bowlers for fun. He scored 129 runs as India posted 215. However, the home team eventually won that contest by nine wickets.
2. 208 vs New Zealand in 1998
Former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin played a captain’s knock in the second Test of India’s 1998 tour of New Zealand. Batting first in Wellington, India lost their first four wickets inside 16 runs. Fortunately for the visitors, Azharuddin unleashed a batting exhibition and took India’s innings forward single-handedly. He eventually slammed 103 runs as India posted 208 runs. New Zealand, however, won that game by four wickets.
- 198 vs South Africa 2022
India suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the recently-concluded third and deciding Test against South Africa. Most of the Indian batters failed to get going on a tricky Cape Town track. However, Rishabh Pant stood tall and gave Proteas bowlers a hard time. Despite not receiving much support from the other hand, the wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten at 100 as India posted a respectable 198 on board in the third innings.
