Can India Chase 359 .In a high-stakes Test series against New Zealand, India faces a daunting task: chasing down a target of 359 on a pitch that has increasingly turned bowler-friendly. With pressure mounting after a first-innings batting collapse, Indian captain Rohit Sharma will look to rally his team in hopes of a series-saving victory. Let’s look at India’s history with successful fourth-innings chases and where a potential 359-run chase would rank among the greatest Test comebacks on Indian soil.
India’s Most Notable Successful Test Run Chases at Home
While Indian pitches often favor spinners and make high chases difficult, there have been some thrilling exceptions. Here are some of the highest successful run chases on Indian soil.
1. 387 Runs – India vs. England, Chennai (2008)
- Margin of Victory: 6 wickets
- India chased down a monumental target of 387, led by a heroic 103* by Sachin Tendulkar. This iconic victory was especially significant as it followed the Mumbai attacks, symbolizing resilience and unity.
2. 276 Runs – West Indies vs. India, Delhi (1987)
- Margin of Victory: 5 wickets
- Sunil Gavaskar’s last Test series was graced with this iconic chase, where India chased down 276 with ease, displaying classic Test-match temperament and grit.
3. 276 Runs – India vs. West Indies, Delhi (2011)
- Margin of Victory: 5 wickets
- Led by a powerful innings from Virender Sehwag, India chased down 276 runs in Delhi to secure another memorable win over the West Indies.
4. 261 Runs – India vs. New Zealand, Bengaluru (2012)
- Margin of Victory: 5 wickets
- India pulled off a remarkable chase against New Zealand, with Virat Kohli’s 51-run innings sealing the victory in a tense final session.
5. 254 Runs – India vs. Australia, Mumbai (Brabourne Stadium) (1964)
- Margin of Victory: 2 wickets
- This historic Test witnessed one of India’s earliest major chases. The partnership between Chandu Borde and Vijay Manjrekar was crucial in sealing this rare fourth-innings chase.
6. 216 Runs – India vs. Australia, Mohali (2010)
- Margin of Victory: 1 wicket
- A nail-biting encounter, where VVS Laxman’s iconic 73* led India to victory in the final moments. Known as one of India’s greatest home Test victories, this match exemplified tenacity and fighting spirit.
7. 207 Runs – England vs. India, Delhi (1972)
- Margin of Victory: 6 wickets
- Against an aggressive English attack, India chased down 207 runs, highlighting the skills of Ajit Wadekar and Gundappa Viswanath.
8. 207 Runs – India vs. Australia, Bengaluru (2010)
- Margin of Victory: 7 wickets
- Virender Sehwag’s explosive batting helped India chase down 207 runs with ease, securing a dominant win over Australia.
9. 203 Runs – India vs. Pakistan, Delhi (2007)
- Margin of Victory: 6 wickets
- India chased down 203 in an exciting finale, powered by a composed half-century by Sourav Ganguly, to secure a historic win over Pakistan.
10. 194 Runs – Australia vs. India, Bengaluru (1998)
- Margin of Victory: 8 wickets
- In one of the great chases, Sachin Tendulkar’s memorable 177 in the first innings set up the second innings, leading India to a confident 194-run chase.
India’s Current Task: Can They Chase 359 Against New Zealand?
As India faces a formidable 359-run target against New Zealand, the challenge ahead is substantial. With bowlers extracting turn and bounce from the surface, Rohit Sharma and his team will need top-order contributions and a resilient middle-order performance. If successful, this chase would not only boost India’s World Test Championship prospects but would also be one of the highest successful chases on Indian soil.
- “India’s 10 Highest Fourth-Innings Run Chases in Test Matches”
This match is shaping up to be a historic moment in Indian cricket—one that could rank alongside the greatest Test chases on home soil if the team manages to pull off this monumental task.