Top 5 lowest totals India failed to chase down in Test history ft. IND vs SA 2025

India crashed to a 30-run defeat in the opening Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Proteas are touring for a two-match Test series. They have now taken a 1-0 lead with their stunning win in Kolkata.

It was an embarrassing defeat for Shubman Gill and Co. as they failed to chase down a low target of 124. Notably, this was the second time that they were unsuccessful in chasing a target below 150 in a home Test, creating an unwanted record for themselves.

After having beaten the West Indies 2-0 convincingly in their previous home series recently, the loss at home against the current World Test Champions (WTC) came as a major disappointment.

India will be under pressure heading into the second Test at Guwahati. They will have to bounce back to level the series.

That said, here are the top five lowest totals that India have failed to chase in their Test cricket history.

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#5 193 vs England at Lord's 2025

During the third Test against England at Lord's in the recent series in 2025, India failed to chase down a total of 193 in the final innings. They were bowled out for 170, losing the game by 22 runs.

KL Rahul scored 39 at the top while Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with an unbeaten 61 off 181 balls, but did not have much support from the other batters. Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes picked up three wickets each. England went on to take a 2-1 lead with this victory.

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#4 176 vs Sri Lanka at Galle 2015

The first Test during India's tour to Sri Lanka at Galle in 2015 resulted in a 63-run loss for the visitors. Batting first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 183. In reply, the visitors put up a solid total of 375. The hosts then came back with a 367-run total, setting India a target of 176 runs in the final innings.

However, it was a nightmare for the visitors as they were bowled out for just 112 runs in 49.5 overs. Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with 36 while only three other batters got to double figures, two being Ishant Sharma and Amit Mishra. Rangana Herath stunned Virat Kohli and his team with a seven-wicket haul in the final innings.

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#3 147 vs New Zealand at Wankhede 2024

The third Test of the home series against New Zealand at Wankhede in 2024 saw India suffer an embarrassing defeat. They lost by 25 runs while attempting to chase down a target of 147 in the final innings.

The top four fell cheaply as the hosts were reduced to 28/4 with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli all back in the hut. New Zealand kept chipping away and bowled the hosts out for 121 in the end. With this loss, India also suffered a 3-0 whitewash on home soil.

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#2 124 vs South Africa at Eden Gardens 2025

South Africa were bundled out for 159 in the first innings as Jasprit Bumrah bagged a five-wicket haul. India got to 189 in reply and took a 30-run lead. In the second essay, South African skipper Temba Bavuma impressed with an unbeaten 55 as they got to 153 and set a target of 124 runs.

The hosts succumbed to the pressure after having lost both openers with just one run on the board. While Washington Sundar (31) and Axar Patel (26) showed some fight, it was not enough as they were cleaned up for just 93, losing by 30 runs.

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#1 120 vs West Indies at Bridgetown 1997

During India's tour to the West Indies in 1997, the visitors recorded their lowest target that they failed to chase down in Test cricket. The bowlers put up solid efforts to bowl the hosts out for 298 in the first innings and 140 in the second.

They were set a target of 120 runs in the final innings. However, they fell like a pack of cards and failed to get to the total. The visitors were skittled out for just 81 runs, suffering a 38-run loss. VVS Laxman (19) was the only batter to get to double figures in that chase.