5 biggest Test wins for India in terms of runs
India are one of the most followed teams in world cricket. Having played their first-ever Test match in 1932, it took India almost 20 years to get their first-ever win in the format. It was in 1952 that they managed to beat England to secure their maiden Test victory.
Today, India have played 521 Test matches to emerge victorious in 144 of them. While there have been some close wins, some victories have also come off considerably big margins.
Let’s take a look at 5 biggest Test wins for India, in terms of runs:
#5 280 runs vs South Africa (Kanpur - 1996)
After South Africa’s readmission to international cricket, India were the first to play against them, back in 1991. India hosted a 3-match ODI series against the Proteas. Later, they also travelled to South Africa the following year to play on a full-fledged tour there.
South Africa returned to India in 1996 to play its first Test series in the country. The series was level at 1-1 after the first two Tests. India won the toss in Kanpur (3rd Test) and elected to bat first.
WV Raman and Sachin Tendulkar struck fifties in the first innings, but India could only manage 237 at the end of it all. Paul Adams was the star with the ball for South Africa and took 6 wickets with the red cherry.
In South Africa’s first innings, Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath rattled the visitors as they shared 7 wickets between them and dismissed the visitors for just 177, due to which India managed to gain a handy 60-run lead.
In the second innings, skipper Mohammed Azharuddin struck a magnificent ton and scored an unbeaten 163 to take the hosts to a total of 400, after which they declared the innings.
Chasing a target of 461, South Africa were bowled out for 180 as Javagal Srinath and Sunil Joshi took three wickets a-piece and gave India a series-clinching victory in the match.
Brief Scores: India 237 (WV Raman 57, Sachin Tendulkar 61, Paul Adams 6/55) and 400/7 dec (Mohammed Azharuddin 163*, Rahul Dravid 56, Fanie de Villiers 2/58) beat South Africa 177 (Gary Kirsten 43, Anil Kumble 4/71, Javagal Srinath 3/42) and 180 (Hansie Cronje 50, Javagal Srinath 3/38, Sunil Joshi 3/66)