5 worst collapses by Indian Test team on foreign soil
The Indian cricket team is one of the most followed teams in the world. However, they haven’t been too successful away from home. They often tend to get themselves in good positions, but manage to squander the advantage and they would go onto to lose the Test match.
And many of them are because of the batting collapses. We often see the bowlers restrict the opposition, but the batsmen don’t often back up the bowlers’ performance.
Thus, here we take a look at some of the worst collapses by the Indian team in Test matches overseas.
#5 Durban, South Africa – 1996
66 all-out in the second innings
After a historic tour to South Africa in 1992, India toured the African nation again in 1996/97. It was a much anticipated as it was Sachin Tendulkar’s first series as Test captain away from home.
India started off the first Test on a positive note. After opting to bowl first on a greenish surface, India bowled South Africa out for 235 on the first day. Venkatesh Prasad bowled brilliantly and took 5/60. However, the Indian batsmen couldn’t cope with the pace and bounce as a quality bowling attack skittled the visitors out for a mere 100.
The Indian bowlers once again bowled well to dismiss the hosts for 259. But a target of 395 was always going to trouble the Indian batsmen. However, they needed to put up a fight.
But the South African pacers ran riot as they bowled the visitors out for just 66. The Indian batsmen like the first innings folded like a pack of cards as none of the batsmen barring Rahul Dravid (who was unbeaten on 27) enter double digits. Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener ripped through the batting order and required just 34.1 overs to dismiss India and give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.