Lowest target defended in Test cricket: Lowest score defended in Test cricket by India

India will have to break a 141-year old world record if they are to win the ongoing third Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 Test match against Australia in Indore. The same will require the home team to defend the lowest target in the history of Test cricket.

Only a handful of minutes were left in the second day’s play when India lost their last wicket in the form of pacer Mohammed Siraj (0). Been bundled our for 163 in 60.3 overs, India have put forward a paltry 76-run target in front of the opposition.

An 88-run first innings lead for the visitors has turned out to be the decisive factor between the two teams in a low-scoring match on a rank-turner at the Holkar Stadium.

Whether India will gain an unassailable 3-0 lead after winning their third consecutive match of the series or not will chiefly depend on a collective miraculous bowling performance. However, what is confirmed at this point in time is for this match to become the third consecutive BGT 2023 contest to finish on Day 3 itself.

While the first two Tests had finished within eight sessions, Australia could seal this run-chase in the seventh session itself if they bat according to their potential tomorrow.

Although India had defended a 107-run target against the Aussies at the Wankhede Stadium in 2004, they have never been able to defend anything less than 100 runs against any opposition in Test cricket.

Lowest target defended in Test cricket

Lowest score of Australia in Test cricket history

Australia, whose lowest Test innings total (36 vs England at Edgbaston) had come 121 years ago, have been bundled out for 75 or less than 75 runs 15 times in this format.

ALSO READ: Lowest score of Australia in Test cricket vs India

While three out of the five lowest scores defended in Test cricket have come against Australia, the Aussies have still managed to never be dismissed for less than 100 whilst chasing a target.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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