Top 6 India’s Lowest Total in Test: Full List ft. 93 All Out vs South Africa
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.
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.
Moments like these remain part of cricket’s unpredictable charm, often resurfacing across Latest Sports News platforms whenever discussions about India’s toughest batting collapses arise.
Conclusion
India’s six lowest Test totals represent some of the toughest days in the team’s long cricket journey. From the green pitches of Durban to the swinging conditions at Lord’s and the pace-friendly surfaces in Australia and South Africa, each innings had its own story. These moments highlight how difficult Test cricket can be, but also how teams learn and bounce back.
Even with these rare setbacks, India continues to be one of the most successful and respected Test sides in world cricket, proving that tough days do not define a team, but resilience and comeback stories do.
