South Africa humble India by 408 runs! List of India’s biggest defeats in Test cricket

Aakash Saini

India's biggest defeats in Tests [Source: @BCCI/x]India's biggest defeats in Tests [Source: @BCCI/x]

Team India suffered its first-ever defeat of a margin exceeding 400 runs, doing so in the second Test of the 2025 Freedom Trophy Test series at home against WTC winners South Africa. Chasing 549 for a win, Indian batters folded up for just 140 on the final day in Guwahati to concede the two-match series 0-2.

After India’s latest setback, here is a look at their five biggest defeats in Test cricket, in terms of runs.

5. 333 runs vs Australia, Pune 2017

Australia routed hosts India by 333 runs to start off the 2017 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on an emphatic note. Winning the toss and batting first, Australia accrued 260 in the first innings on a rank turner at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Australian left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe scythed through India’s famed batting line-up with a sensational six-wicket haul as the visitors gained a huge 155-run lead at the halfway stage.

After Australia set India a target of 441, Steve O'Keefe once again romped through the hosts with identical figures of 6-35 to claim 12-70 for the match as the visitors went 1-0 up in the series.

4. 337 runs vs Australia, Melbourne 2007

Team India sustained a 337-run drubbing at the hands of Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) back in December 2017. Up against an Australian team that was on a trail of 14 successive Test victories, India folded up for just 196 against Brett Lee (4-46) and Stuart Clark (4-28) to fall 147 runs short of Australia.

Matthew Hayden, who bludgeoned a first-innings century, hammered another quick 47 in the second to blaze Australia to 351-7d and set India a monumental task of 499. The pace of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson proved too hot to handle for the famed Indian batters as they folded up for just 161 at the halfway stage of Day 4.

3. 341 runs vs Pakistan, Karachi 2006

After two high-scoring draws in Lahore and Faisalabad, Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan started off the series-decider against Pakistan in Karachi in January 2006 with a historic first-over hat-trick, and that was about it for the visitors. Despite limiting Pakistan to just 245 on Day 1, the experienced Indian batting line-up had no answers to the pace and swing of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq as they handed a seven-run lead to the hosts.

Every single Pakistani batter responded with a 50-plus score, barring unbeaten Kamran Akmal as Younis Khan’s troops mounted 599-7d. Chasing 607, India managed just 265 despite Yuvraj Singh’s 122 to fall 341 runs short of Pakistan.

2. 342 runs vs Australia, Nagpur 2004

Roughly three weeks after Australia crushed India by 217 runs in Bengaluru in the first Test of the 2004 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, the hosts suffered an even worse larruping, that of a 342-run margin in the third Test of the series in Nagpur.

Influenced by a Damien Martyn century, Australia made 398 in the first innings before fast bowlers Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie had India crumbling out for just 185. Emboldened with a 213-run lead, Australia listed 329-5d with a couple of 90s from Simon Katich and Martyn as India were left to hunt 543 for an unlikely win. Needless to say, the hosts had no chance as they were blown away for just 200 to hand Australia a historic series victory on Indian soil.

1. 408 runs vs South Africa, Guwahati 2025

WTC winners South Africa pulverized India by 408 runs in the second Test of the 2025 Freedom Trophy to seal the two-match series 2-0 on Indian soil. Batting first in Guwahati, a century from Senuran Muthusamy and a quick 93 from Marco Jansen helped South Africa mount 489. Jansen (6-48) and Simon Harmer (3-64) wiped the floor with Indian batters to give their side a big lead of 288 by Day 3.

South Africa batted their way to 78.3 overs to make 260-5d and set India a steep target of 549. A six-wicket haul from Simon Harmer on the final day ensured India managed just 140 in response.