Stats: India break the record of their highest ever team total in Tests
On a day which saw numerous individual records broken, the Indian cricket team broke a 7-year-old record of their highest ever team total while batting in the ongoing 5th and final Test against England at Chennai. With 759 runs on the board with the loss of 7 wickets, India were 1 run short of the highest ever team total in India. The highest is Sri Lanka’s 760 at Ahmedabad in 2009.
India’s previous highest ever team total came against Sri Lanka at Mumbai in 2009 where India scored 726-6 in a match which ended as a draw.
As the 4th day’s play commenced between India and England earlier today, spectators were in for a treat as new entree Karun Nair became the third batsman to score a triple century as his maiden century in Tests and only the second Indian ever to score a triple century.
There some exemplary shots on display off the bat of Karun Nair en-route his knock of 303 which included 32 fours and 4 huge sixes. After crossing 250, Nair began to attack the bowlers and scored at a quick rate to take India past the historic total. He was well complimented by Ravindra Jadeja who scored 51 off 55 deliveries.
Extra Cover: Twitter reacts as Karun Nair smashes records and scores a Triple century
Just as Nair crossed his 300, Virat Kohli decided to declare the innings with India 282 runs ahead of England’s 1st innings total of 477. England, who finished the day with 12 runs on the board without the loss of any wickets will be looking to avoid another innings defeat when Cook and Jennings walk out to bat tomorrow. India, on the other hand, will not show any mercy and throw everything at the English batsmen to achieve yet another victory and win the series 4-0.
Here is the list of highest ever team totals by India in Tests. Interestingly, three of them have come against Sri Lanka.
ScoreOppositionYearGround759-7 dec.England2016Chennai726-6 dec.Sri Lanka2009Mumbai707Sri Lanka2010Colombo705-7 dec. Australia2004Sydney676-7Sri Lanka1986Kanpur