As soon as England set a target of 193, to the Indian team at Lord’s, one could just predict, what was going to happen with the visitors. A batting order collapse, and eventually a loss. Well, collapse did happen, but Ravindra Jadeja, combined with Mohammed Siraj & Jasprit Bumrah did take the team tantalisingly close. Nonetheless, it was a defeat in the end, by 22 runs.
India’s Struggles Continue While Chasing
Chasing isn’t our forte, especially in SENA nations. And why do we say that? Simply because, while chasing targets of over 150, India has managed to win matches — only thrice in their Test history — 1971 vs ENG at Kennington Oval, 2003 vs AUS at Adelaide, and 2021 vs AUS at Brisbane.
Yes, it’s true. Team India is just very uncomfortable while chasing targets in excess of 150 — in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Let’s see how, in a sample size of only last 10 years, since 2015. Last year, in the IND vs AUS series, during the 4th Test in Melbourne, India were set a target of 340, and under pressure they crumbled. They could only manage 155 and lost by 184 runs. Then a year prior to that, in 2023 WTC final, they were set a target of 444 by the Aussies, and were bundled out for 234.
Can’t Chase Over 150 in SENA Countries
| Vs | Winner | Target | Score | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | South Africa | 208 | 135 | 2018 |
| South Africa | South Africa | 287 | 151 | 2018 |
| England | England | 194 | 162 | 2018 |
| England | England | 245 | 184 | 2018 |
| England | England | 464 | 345 | 2018 |
| Australia | Australia | 287 | 140 | 2018 |
| Australia | Australia | 444 | 234 | 2023 |
| Australia | Australia | 155 | 340 | 2024 |
Won Chasing Under 100
Going further back, comes the 2018 tour to Australia, where again there were a few instances. In the 2nd Test at Perth, while chasing 287, the Indian side was bundled out for a paltry 140. Same year saw England get the better of India. At the Oval in the fifth Test, despite Rahul and Pant smashing tons, they were all out for 345, while chasing 464. In the previous match at Southampton, the team could not chase down 245, and lost by 60 runs.
In the first Test at Birmingham, they came really close to chasing down194, but in the end were sent packing for 162. And then there are two instances against South Africa in 2018. In Centurion Test, after being set a target of 287, India lost by 135 runs, and in the first encounter of the series, at Cape Town, they couldn’t chase down 208.
Yes, in this period they did register wins while chasing in Melbourne 2020, and Cape Town 2024, but those targets were well inside 100, which further prove India’s shortcoming batting last in SENA nations.
