Cricket facts: Lowest total by India in home tests

Cricket is a sport that is loved and followed passionately by millions of people around the world. One of the most exciting formats of cricket is Test cricket, which is played over five days and is considered the ultimate test of a cricketer's skills and endurance. India, which is one of the powerhouse cricketing nations, has a rich history in Test cricket. While India has had its share of memorable performances in Test cricket, there have also been some embarrassing moments. In this article, we will take a look at the cricket facts of the lowest total by India in home Tests.

Cricket facts:

1. 142 vs England (2012)

One of the cricket facts of the lowest total by India in home tests comes in the first Test of the 2012 series against England in Mumbai. India was bowled out for just 142 runs in the second innings. Once again, it was the English spinners who did the damage. Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann took six and four wickets respectively. India eventually lost the series by 10 wickets.

2. 109 vs Australia (2023)

It was India's 14th-lowest total at home in Test cricket and their third-lowest-ever against Australia at home. India failed to make good use of the early advantage as they folded for just 109 in just over a session on Day 1 of the 3rd Test in Indore. On a pitch that offered more turn than Delhi and Nagpur, India batters crumbled against the Australian spinners, who had their tails up. Kuhnemann picked up his maiden 5-wicket haul and finished with figures of 5/16. While Nathan Lyon picked up 3 crucial wickets. Toddy Murphy picked up only one wicket but it was the crucial scalp of Virat Kohli, who seemed to have found a way to negate the spin threat from Australia.

3. 107 vs Australia (2017)

One of the most embarrassing cricket facts of the lowest total by India in home tests comes when India suffered a second batting collapse in two days and was bowled out for 107 runs in the second innings. However, India surrendered the Test to Australia inside three days after Steve O'Keefe picked up six wickets each in both innings. India was chasing a target of 441 runs. But they were bowled out for 107 in just 33.5 overs in the second innings. Nathan Lyon picked up four wickets in the second innings. This was Australia's first win on Indian soil in 13 years.

4. 105 vs Australia (2017)

One of the lowest innings totals in home Test matches since 2008 came against Australia in Pune in 2017. Batting second in the first Test of the series, India was bowled out for a meager 105 runs in just 40.1 overs. Meanwhile, Australian spinner Steve O'Keefe was the star of the show. He picked up six wickets to restrict India to their lowest total against Australia at home. India eventually lost the match by a massive 333 runs.

5. 76 vs South Africa (2008)

This was India's lowest total in a Test series at home. In the third Test of the four-match series against South Africa, India was bowled out for just 76 runs in their first innings. The South African fast bowlers wreaked havoc on the Indian batting line-up. Dale Steyn took 5 wickets and Makhaya Ntini and Morné Morkel took 3 and 2 wickets respectively. However, India went on to lose the innings by 90 runs.