Top 5 Lowest Test Totals Registered Against India

South Africa were bundled out for 55 [X.com]

India since its entry into cricket, has been all about batting, and spinners, with the pacers playing just supportive roles. 

In home-conditions, Indian spinners become unplayable, where teams have folded for miserly scores over the years. However, in overseas wins, pacers become the most potent in an attempt to outclass opponents with the ball, which are fast-bowling friendly-conditions.

While Tests can be won by batters, red-ball series are won by picking wickets match-after-match, which for India has become fairly easy in the recent past compared to their history.

After failing to strike any rhythm in the Centurion Test, Indian bowlers ran-riot in the ongoing second Test in Cape Town on Day 1, where the Proteas managed just 55 runs. South Africa's 55 all-out is the lowest Test total for any nation against India, since first playing red-ball cricket in 1932.

In this article, we at OneCricket look at the Top 5 Lowest Totals Against India in Test Cricket.  

South Africa 55 All-Out, Cape Town 2024

Mohammed Siraj claimed a six-for as South Africa folded for 55 [X.com]

Having failed to execute line and length in the first Test, Indian bowlers hit their mark from ball one of the second encounter.

Mohammed Siraj, who claimed two wickets in Cape Town, came out all guns blazing and pocked wickets of openers Aiden Markram, and captain Dean Elgar in quick succession.

Jasprit Bumrah, too, joined in the fun, ending Tristan Stubbs' stay in the crease for 3.

Then it was the Siraj show, who bowled a probing line and broke the broke of the Proteas batting order, claiming a memorable six-wicket haul, where the likes of David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, and Marco Jansen looked like sitting ducks.

Mukesh Kumar finished the formalities cleaning up the tail, picking wickets of Kesha Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada with Bumrah claiming the final South African wicket of Nandre Burger, which folded the hosts for 55.

New Zealand 62 All-Out, Mumbai Test , 2021

Henry Nicholls gets bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin [X.com] 

In a match where several records were broken and created, India rattled out New Zealand for 62 in the first innings of the second Test at Mumbai. After Ajaz Patel claimed 10 Indian wickets in the first innings, the host spinners led by Ravichandran Ashwin outclassed Kiwi batters on an abrasive and spin-friendly track. 

Siraj started the proceeding, clinching the wickets of Tom Latham, Will Young, and Ross Taylor in under five overs.

Axar Patel tasted first blood from the trio of Indian spinners, picking up Daryl Mitchell, after which Ashwin began his masterclass. Ashwin toyed with Black Caps batters, picking up the lower-middle and tailender wickets to claim a well-earned four-fer.

Patel claimed his second in the form of Kyle Jamison, while off-spinner Jayan Yadav took Rachin Ravindra's wicket, which witnessed New Zealand bundle out for 62. 

South Africa 79 All-Out, Nagpur Test, 2015

Simon Harmer gets bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin  [X.com]

South Africa make their second appearance on the list, having folded for 79 in the third Test at Nagpur during their 2015 tour to India. 

Nagpur produced rank-turned, where India managed just 215 while batting first, which was followed by Ravichandran Ashwin's excellent five-wicket haul wrecking South Africa's strong line-up, with Ravindra Jadeja providing able support. 

Ashwin displayed mastery over the spinning ball and knocked over the likes of Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, and Hashim Amla in back-to-back overs. 

As always, Jadeja chipped wickets from the other end breaking the Proteas' middle order claiming both AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis. Ashwin returned and finished the tail, picking up yet another five-wicket haul, that helped India round off South Africa for 79. 

England 81 All-Out, Ahmedabad Test, 2021 

Jonny Bairstow gets bowled by Axar Patel in the second innings [X.com]

The highly anticipated India-England Test at the newly renovated Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad became a nightmare venue for the Three Lions in the Pink-Ball encounter.

After getting knocked over for 112 in the first innings, India, too, barely managed to make 145. Axar Patel, who annihilated English batters the first time around, continued to have fun in the second innings as well, where they just could not put bat to ball.

Patel, on a rank-turner bowled with precise line and length, where players such as Zak Crawley, Dom Sibley, Joe Bairstow, and Jonny Bairstow failed while attempting to play for spin.

Ravichandran Ashwin, too, joined in the festivities and bettered his wickets tally from the first innings to claim four wickets. Patel picked up a memorable five-wicket haul to record match figures of 6 for 70. Washington Sundar knocked over James Anderson's wicket, which saw England get bowled out for 81. 

Sri Lanka 82 All-Out, Chandigarh Test, 1990

In the only Test of their 1990-91 tour, Sri Lanka fell victim to India's Venkatapathy Raju's brilliance. With 288 on the board, Indian bowlers came out in Chandigarh with the wind behind their back.

Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar opened up Sri Lanka's batting line-up picking up Roshan Mahanama, and Athula Samarasekera wickets up front.

This opened the floodgates for Raju, who on his comeback into the national side, wrecked the opponents, picking up five wickets for two runs in a span of 39 balls in his first spell.

Asanka Gurusinha remained defiant scoring an unbeaten 52*, as others succumbed to India's bowling. Raju, righty picked up the final Sri Lankan wicket of the innings, to complete a fine six-for as the opponents managed just 81. 

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