List of lowest totals defended by India in Test cricket: Can India defend 107 vs New Zealand in Bengaluru

Add as a preferred source on Google

India need to defend 107 in the first Test to beat New Zealand and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The hosts valiantly overcame the 356-run deficit on Day 4 of the ongoing Test at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but lost their last seven wickets for 62 runs to finish their second innings at 462.

India were bundled out for 46 in the first innings as five of their batters were dismissed for ducks. But the second innings saw altogether a different approach from the India batters. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hit fifties, Rishabh Pant was dismissed for 99 and Sarfaraz Khan smashed his maiden Test hundred, and scored 150 off 195 balls.

India were cruising at 408/3 at one stage but the introduction of the second new ball changed the plot. The team was bundled out for 462 runs to set only a paltry 107-run target for New Zealand.

Can India defend 107 and beat New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru? Well, India did defend exactly 107 runs once against Australia at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in 2004. Australia were bundled out for 93 as Harbhajan Singh picked a five-fer, and Murali Kartik picked three wickets. This is the lowest total India have defended in Test cricket.

Lowest total defended by India in Test cricket

• 107 vs Australia in Mumbai in 2004
• 143 vs Australia in Melbourne in 1991
• 170 vs South Africa in Ahmedabad in 1996
• 188 vs Australia in Bengaluru in 2017
• 188 vs New Zealand in New Zealand in Mumbai in 1969

India would be looking to emulate their 2004 feat, and the first 30-40 minutes of the game will certainly clear out the scenario of the match. India wanted to bowl some overs to New Zealand before the end of Day 4 but bad light stopped play early on Saturday. On Friday, India would need to strike early to stand a chance of pulling off a famous win in Bengaluru.