5 Test matches that should have been won by team India

Test cricket is the ultimate form of cricket which challenges the players over a period of 5 days and 4 innings. At times, in spite of dominating a Test match for 4 days and 3 innings, the fifth day and the 4th innings is the deciding factor between winning a Test, losing it or ending in a draw.

There have been a few instances when the Indian team have dominated a Test for the first three innings. But the fourth innings was the deciding factor, and team India could not get over the finishing line. Here is a look at 5 such Test matches, which India should have won but ended losing or drawing.

#1. India Vs West Indies - Bridgetown, 1997:

The third Test of India's tour to West Indies in the 1997 was indeed a dramatic one. Having bowled out West Indies for a score of 298 in the first innings, India managed to get a handy lead of 21 runs courtesy a brilliant century from skipper Sachin Tendulkar. West Indies collapsed for 140 runs in the third innings of the Test, leaving a target of 120 for team India to record their first ever Test win at Barbados.

However, what transpired left the entire cricketing community in a state of shock. The trio of Ambrose, Bishop and Rose dismissed the strong Indian batting line up for just 81 runs with only the opener V.V.S. Laxman, entering a score in the double digits.

The Barbados Test was one of the most disappointing Tests in the history of Indian cricket and then-skipper Sachin Tendulkar later revealed that he considered quitting the game after the Barbados debacle.

#2. India Vs Pakistan, Chennai 1999:

In spite of Sachin Tendulkar's heriocs, Pakistan clinched the Chennai Test by 12 runs

A Test match between India and Pakistan is always special. The first Test between the two nations in Chennai in 1999 was more so as India was hosting Pakistan for the first time in 12 years.

India managed to take a lead of 16 runs in the second innings of the Test and dismissed Pakistan for 286 in the third innings. The target of 271 was a challenging one but considering the strong batting line, India was expected to chase it down.

India were comfortably placed at 254/6 and were on course to achieving the target when Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored 136 runs, was dismissed. The rest of the bartting line up could just contribute 4 runs and the entire team was bowled out for just 258 runs. Pakistan won the Test by 12 runs.

India went on to win the second Test in Delhi and the 2 match Test series was drawn 1-1.

#3. India Vs South Africa, Johannesburg 2013:

South Africa almost chased a record score of 458 in the 4th innings

South Africa were set a target of 458 runs in the fourth innings of the first Test at Johannesburg in 2013. No team had chased 458 runs in the fourth innings of a Test to record a win and team India were expected to win the Test with ease.

South Africa were struggling at 197 for 4 and India were on course to winning only their third Test on South African soil. However A. B. De Villiers and Faf du Plessis took the attack on to the Indian bowlers and put on a partnership of 205 runs, to place South Africa in a winning position. By the time both De Villiers and Faf du Plessis were dismissed, South Africa needed just 16 more runs to create history.

The match went down to the wire and South Africa fell short of the target by just 8 runs and ended up with a total of 450/7. The match ended in a draw.

This match exposed the Indian bowling's age old weakness of not capitalizing on their match position when it mattered the most. South Africa went on to win the second Test of the series and won the two match series by a margin of 1-0.

#4. India Vs Australia, Adelaide 2014:

Virat Kohli was leading India for the first time in a Test match due to an injury to M. S. Dhoni at Adelaide and made his intentions clear of playing positive cricket under his captaincy.

India were set a target of 364 to win the Test and create history by chasing a record total on Australian soil. India were comfortably placed at 205/2, requiring 158 more runs to win the Test in 37 overs. Virat Kohli, the skipper took the bold decision to chase down the target by attacking the Australian bowlers.

However while chasing, the Indian batting crumbled, and after Kohli's dismissal for 141 runs, the entire batting line up collapsed and India were bowled out for 315 runs, losing the Test by 63 runs.

India lost 8 wickets in a session and the star for Australia was Nathan Lyon, who picked up 7 Indian wickets in the 4th innings. Though Kohli was given a standing ovation by the Adelaide crowd, the skipper was really disappointed that he could not take India over the finishing line. Australia went on to win the 4 match Test series 2-0.

#5. India Vs Sri Lanka, Galle 2015:

Rangana Herath picked up 7 wickets and lead SrI Lanka to a win

Skipper Virat Kohli's first assignment as a full time Test captain was the tour of Sri Lanka in 2015 and the first Test in Galle was a forgettable one for him - and team India. After taking a lead of 192 runs in the first innings, India were set a target of just 176 runs to win the Test.

Rangana Herath created complete havoc by picking up 7 wickets and the entire Indian team was bundled out for only 112 runs with Sri Lanka winning the Test by 64 runs.

Team India went on to win the remaining 2 Tests in the series and clinched the 3 match series by a margin of 2-1.