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5 highest successful run chases in India in Test cricket
England have a difficult task of chasing 399 runs to win the 2nd Test against India at Vizag. After winning the first test by just 28 runs, England are on the back foot in the ongoing Test match. They have a good chance to change things come the 4th day of the Test at Vizag. For that to happen, they must pull off a heist at Vizag against India in their own backyard.
The target is not impossible but is very difficult to achieve. No team has been able to chase more than 387 runs in the fourth innings of a Test match in India. It is a huge task for England. But the way they have been playing under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, only the sky seems to be the limit. However, the challenge will be different in India as compared to that in England.
England has chased huge targets in the recent past. Some of them have been well over 350. However, most of them were in their won conditions. In England, usually, the old ball does not do a lot for the bowlers and the wicket usually becomes better to bat on. England have been able to chase down huge totals due to their batting supremacy. However, the ball assists the spinners.
There are instances where even simple targets were not chased by the teams. England have gotten off to a decent start. The key would be to sustain it for the rest of the match. Here are the top five highest run chases in India in the history of Test cricket.
5. 254 by India vs Australia at Brabourne Stadium in 1964
Highest successful run chase in India (Source: X)
It was a crazy match between India and Australia back in the 1960s. India was asked to chase down 254 on the last day, a target which was never chased on Indian soil till then. The task was huge, and the players were ready.
Indi lost the opener early. But Dilip Sardesai continued the fight despite wickets falling at the other end. In the lower middle order. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi played a crucial cameo and helped India to chase down the target by just 2 wickets in a thrilling run chase.
4. 261 by India vs New Zealand at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2012
Highest successful run chase in India (Source: X)
It was a stiff target posted by the visiting side as they aimed to win their maiden Test match in the Indian conditions. However, the home side did not let that happen, as they achieved one of the best run chases in the Indian conditions in the longest format of the game.
Despite losing the openers, the middle-order batters stepped up for India. A young Virat Kohli joined the Indian captain MS Dhoni and saved India from a tough situation. They played a great hand and helped India to chase down the target of 261 runs in style.
3. 276 by India vs West Indies at Arun Jaitley stadium in 2011
Highest successful run chase in India (Source: X)
It was almost like a perfect reply by the Indian team to the West Indies. In 1987, the visiting side had chased the exact target against India in India under the captaincy of Viv Richards. India returned the favour to the West Indies after almost 24 years.
Chasing 276 at Delhi, India had to overcome the spinners of Wi who looked threatening. The experienced batters like Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman helped India to pull off a memorable chase. To date, it is the joint 2nd highest run chase in Test cricket in Indian conditions.
2. 276 by West Indies vs India at Arun Jaitley stadium in 1987
Highest successful run chase in India (Source: X)
Back in 1987, it was an unbelievable feat. On a raging turner at Delhi, India asked West Indies to chase 276, which was never achieved before. India seemed to be the favourites to win at one point, as they had WI at 132/5 at one stage. Not many teams could win from that situation.
But it was Viv Richards’ team which was known for conquering territories. The skipper himself stepped up as he scored an aggressive 109(11) and remained unbeaten to see off the run chase with Gus Logie to help the WI to win the match in style. It is the highest successful run chase by a visiting side in India.
1. 387 by India vs England at M Chidambaram stadium in 2008
Highest successful run chase in India (Source: X)
It was just a few weeks after the infamous 27/11 incident which happened in Mumbai. England agreed to play the Test match in Chennai. They set a huge target of 387 runs for India to chase. 276 was the highest successful chase in India till then. England asked to chase 111 runs more.
India got a blazing start as Virender Sehwag raced away to a quickfire 80. It set the platform for India, as Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh ensured that India won the Test match by chasing the target without any hiccups. It is one of the highest successful run chases in the history of Test cricket.