Team India Only Side to Fail Twice While Chasing Under 200 in Tests Since 2019: A Worrying Sign For Coach Gautam Gambhir?

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In a pulsating Test match at Lord's, England clinched a memorable 22-run victory over Team India, defending a modest target of 193 in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The Indian batting line-up crumbled under pressure, succumbing to England's relentless bowling attack, led by Ben Stokes' inspired captaincy, despite a spirited fightback from Ravindra Jadeja and the tailenders.

In the ever-evolving landscape of Test cricket, chasing modest targets in the fourth innings has increasingly become a formality. Improved batting techniques, deeper line-ups, and tactical advancements have helped teams successfully hunt down low scores with increasing regularity.

Since 2019, there have been 57 such instances in men's Test cricket where teams have been set a target under 200. Remarkably, only two of those chases have ended in failure, and both belong to India.

Team India's Shocking Statistic

Out of 57 attempts to chase targets below 200 runs over the past five years, 54 teams crossed the line with success, one match ended in a draw, and only two teams succumbed to pressure. Those two collapses have one thing in common: they were both India's.

The first instance came in December last year at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Against New Zealand, a side whom the Indians dominated historically in their backyard, the home team was set a meagre target of 147. But India, then led by Rohit Sharma, faltered inexplicably, folding for 121, losing the game by 25 runs - a rare failure on a track they should have dominated.

The second - and far more recent - instance is the collapse at Lord's on July 14, 2025, during the ongoing five-match Test series against England.

Lord's Heartbreak for India: A Tale of Two Days

India appeared poised to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. After restricting England to 207 and 178 in their two innings and being set a target of just 193, the Shubman Gill-led side had every reason to believe the chase would be routine. The momentum was on their side following a big win in the previous Test. However, a disastrous unravelling soon followed - one that left players stunned and fans disappointed.

The collapse began late on Day Four, with India's top order crumbling dramatically in the final hour of play. Yashasvi Jaiswal (0), Karun Nair (14), Shubman Gill (6), and nightwatchman Akash Deep (1) all fell cheaply, leaving the score teetering at 58/4 at stumps.

On Day Five, England's relentless bowling and aggressive fielding piled further pressure. Despite brief resistance from KL Rahul (39) and Rishabh Pant (9), India were reduced to 81/6, with the lower order exposed far too early.

England's fielders, particularly under Ben Stokes' leadership, employed relentless sledging and pressure tactics, which seemed to rattle the Indian batters, especially the all-rounders Washington Sundar (0) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (13). Both succumbed without shifting the needle.

Ravindra Jadeja's Lone Battle

If there was one silver lining, it came in the form of Ravindra Jadeja, who stood tall with a gritty, unbeaten 61 off 181 balls, and his partnerships with tailenders. His innings, laced with determination and quiet authority, gave India faint hope. Jadeja's partnerships with Jasprit Bumrah (5) and Mohammed Siraj (4) were the stuff of resilience, as the trio batted for over 34 overs together, frustrating England's bowlers and fans alike.

But once Bumrah and Siraj fell, having played a combined 84 balls, the dream died. India were bowled out for 170 in 74.5 overs, just 22 runs short, making it their smallest defeat margin against England in Test cricket history.

A Pattern Too Familiar - And Alarming?

What's deeply concerning is not just the result, but the pattern that's emerging. These aren't isolated failures. Both collapses have come within nine months of each other and under head coach Gautam Gambhir's watch.

In the post-Kohli era, the team is expected to be led by the next generation - Gill, Rahul, Pant, and others. But the inability to chase sub-200 targets twice in key Tests signals a deeper malaise. It's not about technique alone - it's about temperament, mental fortitude, and the ability to absorb pressure in the fourth innings.

Despite boasting one of the world's most talented squads and the performances with the bat in the previous two games against England, India's fourth-innings stumble suggests a mental reboot is needed. Whether it's tactical planning, field communication, or clarity in batting roles during pressure chases, India must take a hard look at its approach.

With the series still alive, and the fourth Test at Old Trafford after a gap of eight days, the onus is now on how coach Gautam Gambhir and his staff help the dressing room to regroup. Will this stat (and result) linger on with them and impact the result of the upcoming games, or will this be a turning point where this relatively younger Indian side learns to thrive under pressure?