India add Lord's to their faltering in the chase of low targets in Tests
The final day of the Lord's Test in the ongoing India tour of England showed the highs and lows of Test cricket. It did not always make for compelling viewing but the close match that sapped the energy out of both the teams that fought tooth and nail till the last session ended in the visitors losing by a heartbreaking 22 runs chasing a target of 193. For many Indian fans, it brought back memories of the team faltering in the chase of small fourth-innings totals.
Here's a look at the lowest targets India have failed to chase in Test cricket.
West Indies vs India, Bridgetown, 1997
Target: 120
Score: 81
It was a loss that haunted Rahul Dravid for years and compelled Sachin Tendulkar to think of retirement. In the first Test, India had a target of 120 to chase down with two days left but they were skittled for 81 runs as Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop and Franklyn Rose did the damage. India lost by 38 runs, but the scars remain.
Had India won, it would have been their first Test win in the West Indies since 1976. West Indies went on to win the series 1-0, so if we had won the game, the series could have been India's too. Brian Lara, standing in for Courtney Walsh, was leading West Indies for the first time. Although Tendulkar and Dravid stitched a 170-run third-wicket partnership in the first innings, the Indian scorecard told a sorry tale in the second innings. Moments after India lost, it began raining and the downpour didn't stop for two days.
India vs New Zealand, Wankhede, 2024
Target: 147
Score: 121
New Zealand hadn't won a Test series on Indian soil since November 1988 but not only did they manage to win the third Test at Wankhede, they managed to whitewash India 3-0. Rishabh Pant posed the only challenge for New Zealand as the visitors made early inroads after setting a target of 147. Pant stood between New Zealand and the clean sweep but once he was dismissed for 64 just after lunch, it all went awry for India. India were wrapped up for 121, losing by 25 runs.
Ajaz Patel was the Player-of-the-Match, picking up 6/57 in the second innings after claiming 5/103 in the first.
Sri Lanka vs India, Galle, 2015
Target: 176
Score: 112
India had dominated for most of the first Test. They had scored 375 in the first innings and dismissed Sri Lanka for 183, but the Lankans bounced back in the second innings to score 367. India needed 153 to win with nine wickets in hand at the start of the day, but Sri Lanka choked the life out of India's chase with left-arm spinner Rangana Herath taking 7/48 to inflict a 63-run defeat on the visitors.
It was a humbling experience for captain Virat Kohli and his side was criticised for not putting up a fight. India though went on to win the series 2-1.
England vs India, Lord's, 2025
Target: 193
Score: 170
A team in transition led by a young captain Shubman Gill went up against Ben Stokes and an England team that gave up its Bazball approach after the heavy loss in the second Test in Birmingham. India lost the first Test in Leeds despite dominating but bounced back at Edgbaston. Heading into Lord's with the series 1-1, India had the momentum and Jasprit Bumrah was back after sitting out the second Test. England, despite a short turnaround, were boosted by fast bowler Jofra Archer's Test comeback after four-and-a-half years.
India, again, dominated most of the Test but faltered with the bat in the second innings. Chasing 193, their top-order and middle-order let them down. There was gritty resistance from Ravindra Jadeja who top-scored with 61 not out. He combined with the tail comprising Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Only 22 runs were needed for a magical win at Lord's with one wicket in hand, but off-spinner Shoaib Bashir's delivery, despite last man Mohammed Siraj defending well, spun and rolled on to the stump, dislodging the leg bail. India were 170 all out as England celebrated a thrilling win to regain the series lead.
England vs India, Birmingham, 2018
Target: 194
Score: 162
Virat Kohli scored a gritty 149 in the first innings against Jimmy Anderson and Co in the Edgbaston first Test. He was determined in the second innings too, but didn't get much support from the other batters. He was eventually undone by England's superior seam attack, falling for 51. It was Ben Stokes who had turned up clutch even then, getting Kohli out. His dismissal left India 53 runs from victory.The last three wickets could add only 21 runs after Hardik Pandya's 31-run resistance. Chasing 194, India were dismissed for 162, losing by 31 runs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
16 minutes ago
- India Today
Bumrah gets new workload management advice: Play last 2 Tests in England, rest later
Former India captain Anil Kumble has urged Jasprit Bumrah to push himself and play both of the remaining Tests in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, adding that the fast bowler could manage his workload by skipping the upcoming home series later this year. Kumble stressed that India will need their pace spearhead in Manchester and London (The Oval), especially after the heartbreaking defeat at Lord's on Bumrah was named in the squad for the England tour, chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that the pacer was expected to feature in three or four Tests. On arrival in England, Bumrah confirmed he was targeting just three matches, having already declined the captaincy offer to focus on workload after India's loss in the series opener at Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir reiterated that there would be no change in plans and that Bumrah would feature in only three Tests. Bumrah was rested for the second Test in Birmingham, which India won comprehensively by 338 runs. He returned for the Lord's Test and picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings."I would certainly, if I'm part of that group, push Bumrah to play the next game," Kumble told JioHotstar after the match."That's crucial. If he doesn't play and then we lose the Test, that's it—the series is done and dusted. I think Bumrah should play both the remaining Tests. I know he's said he's going to play only three, but there's a long break after this. He doesn't have to play the home series—he can take a break if needed. But I believe he should be out there for the next two."The fourth Test begins in Manchester on 23 July, eight days after the Lord's Test concluded. However, the fifth and final Test at The Oval starts just three days after the fourth, on 31 remains to be seen whether Bumrah and the Indian team management will reconsider their workload strategy. If India level the series in Manchester, will they risk leaving out their ace bowler for the decider in London?Bumrah had previously pushed himself to play all five matches of the 2024–25 Border–Gavaskar Trophy. He dismantled Australia's batting line-up throughout the series, but a recurring back injury flared up during the first innings of the final Test. His absence for most of the Sydney Test proved costly, as India missed a golden opportunity to level the subsequently missed the Champions Trophy and only returned to action during the 2025 IPL the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India are next slated to play a Test series against a visiting West Indies team at home in October before facing South Africa at home in November.- EndsTune InMust Watch
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
22 minutes ago
- First Post
Cricket schedule for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics announced: Matches to get underway on 12 July, one venue to host all fixtures
Cricket makes its return to the Olympics more than a century after making its lone appearance in the 1900 Paris Games, where two teams from Great Britain and France clashed in a one-off two-day match. read more The Indian team will be entering the LA28 Olympics as one of the favourites not just for a podium finish but for gold. Image credit: Reuters/AP Cricket will make its Olympic comeback on 12 July three years from now in Los Angeles with medal matches getting underway a little over a week later. The organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics unveiled the competition schedule for the 34th edition of the world's biggest multi-sporting event on Monday, in which cricket returns to the Olympic fold more than a century after its lone appearance at the Games. Only two teams – one from Great Britain and one from France – had competed in a one-off two-day match in the 1900 Paris Olympics. Cricket, however, returns to the Olympics with a vastly different look, with six teams each across the men's and women's game featuring a total of 180 players, and matches set to take place in the fast-paced T20 format. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Big news!🚨 We're celebrating being exactly three years out from the 2028 Olympic Games by sharing the OFFICIAL OLYMPIC COMPETITION SCHEDULE! From where the first medal will be awarded to action-packed days that already have us cheering, this schedule is the first step in… — LA28 (@LA28) July 14, 2025 Cricket matches to get underway two days before LA28 opening ceremony The cricketing event gets underway on 12 July, two days before the opening ceremony takes place simultaneously at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the SoFi Stadium, with medal games set to take place on 20 and 29 July respectively – the latter taking place on the penultimate day of the competition. Also Read | Cricket's return in LA28 Olympics can only be a positive thing for our game, says Ponting A temporary, purpose-built venue will be constructed at the Fairgrounds in Pomona, located 50 kilometres from the host city, for the cricket matches. A similar setup had been constructed in Nassau County near New York City for last year's T20 World Cup, where eventual champions India played a majority of their group matches including against arch-rivals Pakistan. The cricketing leg of LA28 will have double-headers for the most part, with games starting at 9 am and 6.30 pm local time (9.30 pm and 7 am Indian Standard Time). Besides the Olympics, cricket has also made its presence felt at the Commonwealth Games – in 1998 (men) and 2022 (women). The sport was also part of the Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2023, with India completing a golden sweep in the most recent edition.
News18
31 minutes ago
- News18
Sonam Kapoor Reacts To Viral Post About ‘Desification' Of Wimbledon: ‘Indians Everywhere'
Published By : IANS Diet Sabya posted about 'desification' of Wimbledon 2025, noting the presence of several Indian celebrities including Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Urvashi Rautela, and more. Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who was last seen in the streaming film 'Blind', is coming out in support of the 'desification" of Wimbledon. A recent post by an Instagram handle showed pictures of Indian celebs attending Wimbledon. The post in question spoke about how there has been an uptick in influential people flocking to Wimbledon from India. Sonam took to the comments section of the post, as she wrote, 'Love the captions! Indians everywhere! So good na?". View this post on Instagram A post shared by DietSabya® (@dietsabya) Celebs like Priyanka Chopra, Sonam Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Urvashi Rautela, Neena Gupta and her designer-actor daughter Masaba, Janhvi Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Anushka Sharma and her cricketer husband Virat Kohli turned up at the Wimbledon. On Monday, Wimbledon paid tribute to Indian cinema for the very first time during finals. Wimbledon's official social media handle dropped a surprise post that sent fans into a frenzy. The visual mirrored the Republic Day poster of the upcoming movie 'Jana Nayagan'. Sinner struck a powerful selfie pose with his trophy, echoing Vijay's own image in the film's teaser art. The post was aptly captioned 'The First Roar", inspired by the thunderous BGM composed by Anirudh Ravichander. This marks the first time Wimbledon has saluted an Indian actor and film — making 'Jana Nayagan' the first Indian cinematic reference to be immortalized by the historic sports institution. Looking at the recent trends, Wimbledon has been chasing viewership similar to more popular sports in India like cricket given India's colossal human capital, and the advertisement revenues wired to it. The recent Wimbledon finals saw Jannik Sinner emerging victorious in an electrifying clash against Carlos Alcaraz. Jannik became the first Italian Wimbledon singles champion in the Open Era. The Women's singles defending champion was Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic, but she lost in the third round to Emma Navarro. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
