India is a batting powerhouse, known for producing some of the finest batters. On many occasions, these batters have carried the team on their shoulders, scoring huge runs.
But there have been instances when the batting lineup fell like a pack of cards, recording some of the lowest totals in Test cricket.
Here we’ll look at the five lowest team totals registered by India in Test cricket.
5. 58 vs England | Manchester (1952)
India had a terrible outing with the bat in the 1952 Manchester Test against England. The hosts put up 347 runs on the board in the first innings, thanks to captain Leanard Hutton’s 104-run knock.
India came out to bat, but the Indian batters couldn’t stand in front of Fred Trueman’s fast bowling. Trueman bagged eight wickets for 31 runs, with Alec Bedser taking the rest, wrapping up India for a mere 58 in their first essay.
With a massive lead of 289 runs, England enforced the follow-on and asked India to bat again. The second innings was no different, as the Indian men were all out for 82 runs, losing the Test by an innings and 207 runs.
4. 58 vs Australia | Brisbane (1947)
The 1947 series against Australia was a historic affair, as India were touring Australia for the first time. But the Indian men had a horrendous start to the series in Brisbane.
Australia declared their first innings total on 382 runs, with captain and legendary batter Don Bradman scoring 185 runs. India, unaware of the conditions, succumbed to the host’s fast bowling attack.
Ernie Toshack (5) sliced through India’s lower order, while Ray Lindwall (2), Bill Johnston (2), and Keith Miller (1) strangled the top order. Australia bundled India for 58 runs, followed by 98 in the second dig.
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3. 46 vs New Zealand | Bengaluru (2024)
The M. Chinnaswamy crowd, which is familiar to watching huge scores in T20s, witnessed India’s lowest team total on home soil. After electing to bat first under the cloudy conditions on day two, India were back in the dugout for just 46 runs.
The conditions were favourable for seamers, and New Zealand’s fast bowlers feasted on it. They exploited the conditions to the fullest, sending Indian batters packing in 31.2 overs.
Matt Henry picked up a five-wicket haul, while William O’Rourke took four scalps. Only two Indian batters scored in double digits, while five earned ducks.
2. 42 vs England | Lord’s (1974)
Back in 1974, India registered their first sub-fifty total in the longer format. On a wonderful Lord’s deck, England amassed 629 in their first essay.
In response, India got a solid start of 131 runs from the opening duo of Sunil Gavaskar and Farokh Engineer. But they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were all out on 302.
With a deficit of 327 runs, England asked to follow on, to which India slumped to 42 all out in their second effort. Chris Old and Geoff Arnold shared the spoils, packing India in just 17 overs.
1. 36 vs Australia | Adelaide (2020)
India’s absolute low came against Australia in the first Test of the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). After electing to bat first, India mustered 244 runs on the board against the pink-ball mastery of Australia.
India did well while defending the total, bowling Australia out for 191 runs and taking a decisive lead of 53 runs. Everything seemed under India’s control at this point.
But things changed when India came to bat in the second essay. The Australian pace trio of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc were all over India.
They displayed their skills with the pink ball, restricting the Men in Blue to 36 runs, which is India’s lowest team total in Test cricket. With a 90-run target, Australia chased it easily and won the first match.
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