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India need to chase down the target of 359 runs in the fourth inning to win the ongoing 2nd Test against New Zealand at MCA Stadium in Pune.
India’s highest successful run chase in Tests. (Picture Credit: AFP)
India dismiss New Zealand for 255 runs in the second inning of the ongoing 2nd Test at Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune to set up a target of 359 runs for them to chase down in the fourth inning of the match. With more than eight sessions of play left, one team will definitely win the match, and India would like to script history by chasing down the required total and win the match to level the series. India on two occasions in the past has chased down more than 359 runs in the fourth inning to win the match, and Rohit Sharma’s men have to produce a similar effort one again to avoid a second straight Test defeat in front of home fans.
India can’t afford to lose the Test match in Pune because it will not only dent Rohit Sharma-led side’s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final but also end India’s winning streak of Test series at home. India last lost a Test series at home in 2012 against England and has never suffered a series defeat in front of home fans against the Kiwis.
As India begin to chase down the 359-run target in Pune on Saturday (October 26), here’s a look at the most successful run chase by Team India in Test cricket:
403 vs West Indies in Port of Spain (1976): India’s highest successful run chase in Tests is 403, which they managed to pull off against the West Indies in April 1976 at Port of Spain. Sunil Gavaskar scored 102 runs and Gundappa Viswanath hammered 112 runs to help India score 406 runs for the loss of just four wickets and win the match by six wickets.
387 vs England in Chennai (2008): In the first match played after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, India faced England at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, and riding on Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten century (103), Virender Sehwag’s 83, Gautam Gambhir’s 66, and Yuvraj Singh’s 85 not out, India chased down the target of 387 runs for the loss of four wickets in 98.3 overs to win the match by six wickets.
328 vs Australia in Brisbane (2021): In the fourth and final Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India chased down the target of 328 runs against the Aussies at Gabba in Brisbane to win the match by three wickets. Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 89 runs from 138 balls, and Shubman Gill contributed 91 runs in the fourth inning.
276 vs West Indies in Delhi (2011): India’s second-highest successful run chase in Tests at home is 276, which, under MS Dhoni’s leadership, India achieved against the West Indies at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on November 9, 2011. India chased down the 276-run target for the loss of five wickets in 80.4 overs. Sachin Tendulkar top-scored by making 76 runs in the fourth inning, and VVS Laxman remained unbeaten on 58.
