IND vs NZ 2nd Test: What is the Highest Successful 4th Innings Chase by Team India on Home Soil?

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With the series on the line, Team India could be staring at one of their biggest ever fourth innings chase in the final three days of the ongoing the 2nd Test against New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.

Having already lost the series opener in Bengaluru, Rohit Sharma's side will need to pull of their best-ever batting performance in challenging conditions after being bowled out for 156 in response to New Zealand's 259 in Pune.

The home side conceded a 100-run plus lead after their plan to prepare a spin-friendly surface may have backfired as New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, who had never claimed more than 3 wickets in an innings, had the last laugh, taking seven wickets.

Team India further conceded a lead in the excess of 300 as New Zealand led by skipper Tom Latham's 86 added 198/5 in their second innings before stumps on day 2 with Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips remaining unbeaten overnight.

The wicket seemed to have eased, but Washington Sundar, who claimed seven-wicket haul in the first innings, was once again among the wickets column, putting doubts on whether India can chase down a huge total, having collapsed with the bat in their first innings.

The Indian men's cricket team has successfully chased down 300 plus targets in the fourth innings just three times, and among them only once have they done it on home soil, chasing down 387 against England 16 years ago in Chennai.

The Indian team have also chased down 300 or more on away turfs with the most recent being the Rishabh Pant masterclass at the Gabba in 2021, when they chased down 328 to breach Australia's fortress.

The other ocassion when an Indian team chased down a target more than 300 came way back in 1976 when Sunil Gavaskar, GR Viswanath and Moinder Amarnath helped gun down 403 against West Indies at the Port of Spain.

On home soil, the Indian team has chased down 300 plus only once with their next best chase being 276 against West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla in 2011. Here is a look at the top 5 fourth innings chases by India on home turf:

Highest Successful 4th Innings Chase by India in India

• 387/4 vs England in 2008 (Chennai)
• 276/5 vs West Indies in 2011 (Delhi)
• 262/5 vs New Zealand in 2012 (Bengaluru)
• 256/8 vs Australia in 1964 (Brabourne, Mumbai)
• 216/9 vs Australia in 2010 (Mohali)

387 is the highest target chased down by a team overall in India in the fourth innings of Test match. West Indies is the only other team to successfully chase down a 250-run plus target in the fourth innings of Test played in India.

The Windies had chased down 276 in 1987 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, where England also had chased down 208, which happens to be the second highest by a visiting team.

Can India chase down the target set by New Zealand in the IND vs NZ 2nd Test in Pune?

It will be a huge ask, but they will first need to restrict the visitors from piling on the lead, which has already crossed 300. Batting will not be that easy as the game progresses. So, Rohit Sharma & Co will have their task cut out as they look to keep their home bilateral series record intact.

With almost three days left for the Test and no serious weather threat, there is no chance to play out for a draw. The Indian batters will be challenged, but are expected to put up a fight in the fourth innings against the likes of Santner, Ajaz Patel and Phillips.