A match that was expected to be a miracle for India ended in heartbreak. New Zealand defeated the men in Blue by 8 wickets on Day 5 of the first test at Chinnaswami Stadium.

The rain was expected to wash away the majority of the overs; however, the match saw otherwise. The first day was totally washed off, but a late start on the second day and some play-pause effect throughout the match affected little to nothing in the match. Kudos to the field management of Chinnaswami Stadium and their SubAir procedure to drain away the water within minutes.

Not blaming the rain or otherwise, the captain of the Indian Cricket team showed enough courage to come forward and accept himself mistaking the pitch behavior, before choosing to bat on winning the toss.

Day 2 Massacre

India vs. New Zealand 1st Test saw India crumbling to a dismal 46 all out, their third-lowest score in Test history and the lowest ever at home.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India struggled against New Zealand’s bowling attack. Tim Southee opened the bowling attack for the Kiwis and dismissed Rohit Sharma early, followed by quick wickets of Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan. KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja also fell cheaply, leaving India at 34/6 by lunch.

Rishabh Pant, even though he got a life while batting at 7, was the only notable resistance but eventually fell too. 

In reply, New Zealand took control, with Devon Conway scoring 91, guiding his team to 180/3 by the end of Day 2.

Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant injured his knee while keeping a ball from Jadeja and was seen leaving the field wincing.

Day 3 comeback for India

On day 3, the match resumed late due to the interruption of the rain.

India's bowlers struck early in the morning, with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell, but New Zealand's strong batting performance kept them in control.

Led by Rachin Ravindra's 134. Ravindra and Tim Southee's century stand for the 8th wicket, New Zealand out a mammoth 402 runs on the board.

Coming to bat, Rohit Sharma (52) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (35) created a sturdy base for India in the second innings.

Virat Kohli completed his 9000 test runs, but not before he got out in the most unfortunate way while he was batting 70.

Kohli, with Sarfaraz Khan on the other side, added 136 runs for the third wicket before Glen Phillips provided a breakthrough. Sarfaraz stood unbeaten at 70, leading India to a great fightback on Day 4.

India finished Day 3 of the Test against New Zealand at 231/3, trailing by 125 runs.

Day 4 dominance

On Day 4 of the IND vs. NZ 1st Test, Sarfaraz Khan reached his maiden Test century, guiding India to 344/3 before rain interrupted play. He went on to score 150 before being dismissed as he attempted to lift the ball over cover but was caught by Ajaz Patel. His performance not only drew a standing ovation from the crowd at M Chinnaswamy Stadium but also stabilized India at 413/4. 

However, India began to lose wickets quickly as Rishabh Pant fell agonizingly short of a century, out for 99, followed by KL Rahul's dismissal for 12. Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin also fell in quick succession, with India finishing at 462/9, leading by 106 runs. 

Just as New Zealand's batters stepped out to chase, rain once again halted play with the Blackcaps needing 107 runs to win.

Day 5: Heartbreak for India and history created for New Zealand

On Day 5 of the 1st Test at Bengaluru, rain threatened to disrupt play, but the outfield gradually dried up, and the action resumed. Jasprit Bumrah gave India hope by dismissing New Zealand captain Tom Latham early for a duck. Conway too departed soon, but Will Young and Rachin Ravindra steadied the innings, navigating challenging conditions.

India’s bowlers, including Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, struggled to break the partnership. New Zealand sealed an 8-wicket victory.

Rain never disappoints the Kiwis, as they created history by winning in India after 36 years, since its last win in 1988.

After a disappointing 2-0 clean sweep defeat against South Africa, Team India is all set to begin their three-match ODI series against the Proteas beginning on November 30. The series comes at a time when India are dealing with key injury setbacks at the top of their white-ball setup. 

Newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill, who was slated to lead the side for the first time in the format, has been ruled out after injuring his neck during the first Test in Kolkata. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer also continues his recovery from the injury he suffered on India’s tour of Australia, leaving the leadership group temporarily depleted. In their absence, the responsibility of leading the team returns to KL Rahul, who last captained India in the 2023 ODI series against South Africa, a contest India won 2–1. 

So, before the India vs South Africa ODI series to begin, let's take a look at the result of every ODI series between India and South Africa.

Also Read: India under Gautam Gambhir coaching

India vs South Africa: Head-to-head stats in ODIs

The ODI format has been very competitive between these two teams. South Africa has been stronger in one-day cricket with more wins overall. Both teams have played exciting cricket in World Cups and bilateral series. South Africa is known for their strong ODI team, while India has also had great success in this format.

Out of 94 matches total, South Africa has won 51, while India has won 40 matches. This shows South Africa’s edge in ODI cricket.

India vs South Africa: Last encounter in ODI

The last encounter between India and South Africa in an ODI was during the three-match ODI series in 2023 in Paarl, South Africa.

Sanju Samson hit a fine century as India defeated South Africa by 78 runs in the third ODI to clinch the series. Sent into bat, India lost both the openers early before Samson (108 off 114 balls), which was his maiden ODI hundred, and Tilak Varma (52 off 77 balls) made useful contributions to take 296 for eight. Rinku Singh (38 off 27) also chipped in for the visitors.

Chasing 297, opener Tony de Zorzi made 81 off 87 balls but none of the other Proteas batter could support him as the hosts were bowled for 218 in 45.5 overs. For India, Arshdeep Singh (4/30), Washington Sundar (2/38) and Avesh Khan (2/45) were the main wicket takers.

Also Read: Every India vs South Africa Test Series Results

India vs South Africa: Full Series Results

After winning the T20 World Cup last year, in July, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian team in place of Rahul Dravid. Since then India have won seven Tests, lost 10 and drawn two under Gautam Gambhir coaching. Again all focus has shifted to him once again after the team's embarrassing defeat in the second Test by 408 runs under his coaching as South Africa completed a 2-0 clean sweep at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. India were bowled out for 140 runs in their second innings while chasing the 548-run target. After this, India endured its second home Test series defeat under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni: Comparison in Test cricket

Fifth Test defeat at home in the last nine games

The team is in bad shape under Gambhir's coaching as India is going through a challenging transition phase, this was their fifth Test defeat at home in the last nine games. Under Gambhir, India witnessed a new low last year when they lost a Test series for the first time in 12 years after New Zealand thrashed them 3-0. The defeat was also first for India at home under new skipper Shubman Gill, who took over the captaincy role following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

India lost to Sri Lanka after 18 years

Last year, in July-August, the Indian team went on a tour of Sri Lanka. This was India's first series after Gautam Gambhir became the coach. After winning the T20 World Cup, India's youth team had reached Sri Lanka.

India then had to face 0-2 defeat in the ODI series. After 18 years, the Indian team had lost to Sri Lanka in a bilateral series.

Embarrassing defeat in front of New Zealand

When the New Zealand came to India last year, everyone must have felt in the beginning that by winning this series easily, we will present a strong claim for the World Test Championship final.

On the contrary, India lost 0-3 in this series. This was the first time since 2012 that India lost a Test series at home. New Zealand not only defeated India but also whitewashed them.

Also Read: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

Lost Border Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years

Team India had been winning the Border Gavaskar Trophy continuously for the last 10 years. They defeated the Kangaroos in four consecutive series. During this period, Australia was defeated twice at their own home. India also got the good fortune of defeating Australia in Gabba after almost 30 years.

Now this victory chariot of India has broken under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir. The last time Australia won the Test series against India was in the year 2014-15.

Let's take a look at India's result under Gautam Gambhir's coaching.

India's T20I record under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Matches: 26, Won: 20, Lost: 3, NR: 3

• Sri Lanka vs India (3 T20Is): India won 2-0
• India vs Bangladesh (3 T20Is): India won by 3-0
• South Africa vs India (4 T20Is): India won by 3-1
• India vs England (5 T20Is): India won by 4-1
• Asia Cup 2025 (6 T20Is): India won Asia Cup by beating Pakistan in the final
• Australia vs India (5 T20Is): India won 2-1

India's ODI record under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Matches: 14, Won: 9, Lost: 4, NR: 1

• Sri Lanka vs India (3 ODIs): India lost 0-2
• India vs England (3 ODIs): India won 3-0
• ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (5 ODIs): India won CT 2025 by beating New Zealand in the final
• Australia vs India (3 ODIs): India lost 1-2

India's Test record under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Matches: 18, Won: 7, Lost: 9, NR: 2

• India vs Bangladesh (2 Tests): India won 2-0
• India vs New Zealand (3 Tests): India lost 0-3
• Australia vs India (5 Tests): India lost 1-3
• England vs India (5 Tests): Series Drawn by 2-2
• India vs West Indies (2 Tests): India won 2-0
• India vs South Africa (2 Tests): India lost 0-2

There have been very few wicketkeepers in the Indian Test team who have also made a significant impact with the bat. Legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rishabh Pant have played the role of wicketkeeper-batsman adeptly in Test cricket, leading to frequent comparisons between the two. Now, the debate has once again begun as to who is the better in Test cricket between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. Here’s a comparison of Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni in the longest format of the game.

Also Read: Most Sixes in Test Cricket

Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni | Test Record

Rishabh Pant has better records than MS Dhoni in Test cricket. Pant has played 48 matches, scoring 3456 runs at an average of 43.74. Dhoni scored 4,876 runs in 90 matches at an average of 38.09. Dhoni had six centuries in Test cricket while Pant now has 8.

Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni | Wicketkeeping Record in Test

Both Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni, apart from being exceptional batters for team India, have been just as impressive behind the stumps as well. After 90 Test matches, MS Dhoni had a total of 294 dismissals, where he did 38 stumpings and took 256 catches behind the stumps. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, after 48 Tests has a total of 244 dismissals to his name that includes 15 stumpings and 158 catches as wicket keeper.

Also Read: Most Hundreds in Test cricket among active players

Dhoni's stature in Indian cricket goes well beyond his contributions behind the stumps or with the bat. He led India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy and was captain when the team first rose to the No.1 spot in the Test rankings in 2008. When asked about the comparisons, Pant made it clear that he is only concentrating on his own game.

In Test cricket, big scores and heroic partnerships often make the headlines. But the sport also has days when everything goes wrong for a batting side. For India, a team known for world-class batters across generations, there have still been several occasions where the batting lineup collapsed unexpectedly.

This article looks at the top six lowest Test totals in India’s history, including the recent 93 all out against South Africa, explaining when it happened, where it happened, and how the innings unfolded.

6. 93 all out vs South Africa (Kolkata, 2025)

India’s most recent entry in the list came in 2025 at Eden Garden in Kolkata, where they were bowled out for 93 runs against South Africa. This innings marked their sixth-lowest total in Test history.

The Eden Gardens pitch had some early moisture, which helped the South African fast bowlers get swing and seam straight away. They used the conditions very well, bowled in the right areas, and kept the Indian batters under pressure from the first session.

Wickets kept falling regularly, and India struggled to build even small partnerships. Although the middle order tried to steady the innings, the team still could not reach the 100-run mark. South African spinner Simon Harmer played the biggest role in India’s collapse, grabbing 4 for 21 in the second innings and finishing the match with an impressive eight-wicket haul.

5. 66 all out vs South Africa (Durban, 1996)

India’s first tour of South Africa after the Proteas’ return to international cricket was a tough challenge. At Kingsmead, Durban, India faced a world-class South African pace attack featuring Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Brian McMillan and Lance Klusener.

On a green, lively pitch, India were bowled out for just 66 runs in their first innings. Rahul Dravid, playing his early years of Test cricket, top-scored with 27. Apart from him, no batter looked comfortable. Donald took 5/40 and caused major trouble with his speed and bounce. India went on to lose the Test by 328 runs.

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4. 58 all out vs England (Manchester, 1952)

India again suffered a 58-run innings, this time against England at Old Trafford. The English pacers, especially Fred Trueman, produced a fiery spell on a damp pitch. Trueman took 8 wickets and gave 31 runs in the match.

India lost wickets quickly during a morning session filled with seam movement and swing. As a result, they were bowled out in 21.4 overs, matching their Brisbane score. England comfortably won the Test and the series.

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3. 58 all out vs Australia (Brisbane, 1947)

In the early years after becoming a Test-playing nation, India found it tough to perform well in overseas conditions. A clear example is the 1947 Test in Brisbane against Australia. Facing a powerful bowling attack led by Ernie Toshack and Ray Lindwall, India were dismissed for just 58 runs in their first innings.

Conditions were tough, with pace and bounce troubling the Indian batters. Only Chandu Sarwate, Vijay Hazare and Lala Amarnath reached double digits. Australia went on to dominate the match and win easily.

2. 42 all out vs England (Lord’s, 1974)

India’s second-lowest total came nearly five decades ago during the famous (or infamous) “Summer of 42”. India were playing the second Test of the 1974 tour at Lord’s, where they struggled badly and were eventually defeated by an innings and 285 runs, suffering one of their heaviest losses in Test history. But the innings fell apart quickly due to the swing and seam bowling of Chris Old and Geoff Arnold.

India were bowled out for 42 in just 17 overs. Only Eknath Solkar, with 18 runs, showed some resistance. The collapse led to a massive innings defeat, and the match became a historic low point for Indian Test cricket at the time.

1. 36 all out vs Australia (Adelaide, 2020)

India’s lowest Test total ever came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in the third inning of the first Test at Adelaide Oval. After taking a strong first-innings lead, India entered Day 3 with confidence. But what followed was one of the most shocking batting collapses in cricket history.

Australia’s pace trio, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc, bowled with perfect accuracy and movement. India collapsed from 15/2 to 36 all out in just 21.2 overs. No Indian batter reached double digits; Mayank Agarwal’s 9 was the highest score.

This innings changed the course of the series and remains a reminder of how tough red-ball cricket can be in helpful conditions. 

Boundaries are tests are not at all frequent. Test cricket is a game of patience, dedication, and enthusiasm. Unlike other formats of cricket, cricketers avoid playing aggressively. Cricketers get an ample amount of time so they make sure to use it wisely without any hurry or wrong decisions. Therefore the boundaries are very rare in a test match. In a test match on an average of 10 sixes are hit by the cricketers. In many matches, the cricketers couldn't even score 1 six.

Let's check out the cricketers with the most sixes in test.

Also Read: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

Most Sixes in Test Cricket

1. Ben Stokes | 136

England Test captain Ben Stokes tops the list by being the cricketer with the most sixes in test, smashing 136 sixes in the longest format of the cricket. He surpassed England coach and former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum.

In 115 Test matches, Stokes scored a total of 7,032 runs at an average of 35.69 with 14 centuries and 35 fifties. His individual best score in Tests is 258. Known for hitting sixes under pressure, Stokes has consistently turned games around in key moments, like his iconic 2019 Ashes innings at Headingley.

2. Brendon McCullum | 107

Brendon McCullum comes second in this list. The former cricketer of New Zealand made his Test debut in 2004 and played 101 matches till his retirement in 2016. He smashed 107 sixes in the test cricket. Not only this, he became the cricketer to score the fastest test century (54 balls) in the Test history.

McCullum is considered as one of the fittest players of the modern time. No wonders why he became the first cricketer to appear in 100 consecutive test matches since his debut. Also he is the first Kiwi cricketer to score a triple century.

3. Adam Gilchrist | 100

Aggression was probably Gilchrist's biggest power. He could single-handedly destroy the opposition bowling lineup with his aggressive and attacking batting. Not to mention he is one of the greates wicketkeeper-batsman in the history of cricket. Both batting and wicket-keeping like a pro were something that glued the audience to the screen every time he was on the field.

Gilchrist was definitely the biggest game-changer and impactful player of the Australian Cricket team of his time. Since his Test debut in 1999, he played 96 matches till 2008 and smashed a total of 106 sixes.

4. Tim Southee | 98

Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee ended his career with 98 sixes, the joint-fourth-most in Test cricket history, level with West Indies’ Chris Gayle. 

Southee has scored 2,245 runs in Tests since making his debut in 2008, including seven fifties. However, he is one of the finest bowlers New Zealand have produced, with 391 wickets, only behind Richard Hadlee, who has 431 scalps. He announced his retirement from all format of the cricket in 2024.

5. Chris Gayle | 98

Have you ever watched cricket if you haven't seen Gayle smashing sixes most effortlessly? The former Caribbean cricketer did not show mercy to the bowlers in any forms of cricket. Definition of Chris Gayle on the field means boundaries everywhere. He is known for being one of the best hitters ever. Gayle is the first cricketer to score a century in all three formats of cricket.

Gayle made his Test debut in 2008 and played till 2014. During this time he appeared in 103 test matches and scored 98 sixes.

Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja achieves 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket, becomes second Indian after Kapil Dev to do so

6. Jacques Kallis | 97

Hands down he is the greatest all-rounder of all time. Be it batting, or bowling, Kallis did everything effortlessly. Only four players have scored 5 consecutive Test centuries and he is one of them. Since his test debut in 1995, he played 166 test matches till 2013 and scored 97 sixes. He proved his skills every time and took the South African team out of trouble in the best way possible.

7. Rishabh Pant | 92

India vice-captain Rishabh Pant broke another record on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens. He became the Indian batter with the most sixes in Test cricket, smashing 92 sixes in just 83 innings. He also crossed Virender Sehwag’s record of 91 sixes in 108 innings. 

The left-hander’s aggressive style has transformed India’s Test batting template, and this milestone further reinforces his status as one of the game’s most impactful stroke-makers. Since his debut in 2018, Pant scored 3,454 runs in 48 matches at an average of 44.28 with 8 centuries and 18 half-centuries.

8. Virender Sehwag | 91

In the early 2000s, the term "Aggression" justified the performance of Virender Sehwag on the field. The former Indian cricketer had some other connection with boundaries. He could stand on the pitch and smash the opponents effortlessly. Also, he scored runs at the fastest pace in Test matches. The highest score by an Indian player in Test cricket is 319 runs and the holder of this record is Virendra Sehwag. 

Out of his 23 test centuries he scored 150+ runs in 13 of them. He was often considered not suitable for Test for his aggressive approach on the field, but he proofed everyone wrong and became the eighth cricketer to smash most Test sixes. In 104 test matches, he scored 91 sixes.

9. Angelo Mathews | 90

Angelo Mathews has been a pillar in Sri Lanka’s middle order, mixing solid defense with sudden aggression. His six-hitting ability often helps shift momentum in his team’s favor. Having hit 90 sixes, Mathews uses his power wisely, especially when batting with the tail or consolidating after a collapse.

Also Read: Most Wickets in Test Cricket in 2025

10. Rohit Sharma | 88

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has cleared the ropes 88 times in Tests. While his white-ball reputation as a six-machine is well established, it took time for Rohit to settle into Test cricket. But once he started opening the batting in 2019, his Test career transformed.

Rohit combined elegance with power, and while his strike rate in Tests is quite naturally lower than in T20s or ODIs, his ability to launch spinners over midwicket or go aerial through cover remained intact right up until his retirement from the red-ball game. Rohit started his Test career in 2013 and scored 4301 runs at an average of 40.57 with 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. However, Rohit took retirement from the format in 2024.