The recently concluded nerve-wrecking Test match between India and Australia at Bangalore bought with it a lot of interesting records. After defending 188 to win the epic match by 75 runs, it turned out to be the fifth-lowest total defended by India in their Test history.
Here, we look at the five lowest targets defended by India throughout their Test history. Take a look.
107 v Australia at Mumbai, November 2004:
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, the visiting Australian side needed 107 to win the 4-match series 3-0. However, the Mumbai pitch was turning viciously and the Indian trio of spinners led by Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble and Murali Karthik took nine wickets in between them to halt the Aussies for just 93. Their batsmen had no answers to the sharp turn and bounce in the pitch and kept falling regularly to lose this memorable Test match by 13 runs.
143 v Australia at Melbourne, February 1981:
This is probably one of India's most famous victories overseas. Defending a small target of 143 against Australia in their own den in the 3rd Test of the series, the Indian bowlers put up a spirited performance to halt the Aussies. Kapil Dev (5-28) was the wrecker-in-chief as he utilized the pace and bounce of the surface to good effect. Australia were skittled out for just 83 and lost the match by 59 runs.
170 v South Africa at Ahmedabad, November 1996:
Javagal Srinath single-handedly won this memorable match for India with his exceptional swing bowling performance. Needing 170 runs to win in the 1st Test of the series at Ahmedabad, the visiting South Africans, who had played quite well in the match thus far, crumpled completely as Srinath produced a fiery spell on a fourth-day wicket. Srinath's 6-21 halted South Africa for just 105 and India won the match by 64 runs.
188 v New Zealand at Mumbai (BS), September 1969:
In a very low-scoring game where the home team had performed poorly in the first innings, the visiting New Zealand team required 188 to achieve a famous victory against India in their backyard. However, Bishan Bedi (6-42) and Erapalli Prasanna (4-74) completely overpowered the Kiwis with their spin and variations. The visitors had no answers to spin duo who took all the 10 wickets to fall and were bundled out for 127 to lose the match by 60 runs.
188 v Australia at Bengaluru, March 2017:
In what was perhaps the most memorable Test in recent times, the visiting Australian side dominated the Test for the first two days completely. But India made a strong comeback and Australia then required 188 runs on the last two days to go 2-0 up in the series. That was not to be as all the Indian bowlers bowled their heart out on an abrasive Bangalore pitch to rock Australia on their tracks. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (6-41) was the chief wrecker on this uneven surface and helped bundle Australia out for just 112 runs to give India a fantastic 75-run victory. Â
