Lowest Test totals by India which featured a double century

S Sam
England v India: 4th npower Test - Day Four
The belligerent opener Virender Sehwag features twice on this list

When a batsman gets a double century in a Test match then it is almost a given that the team would end up making a big score and that is usually the case when it comes to India's Test history as well. Sometimes there are innings in which one batsman rises above the collective incompetence of his teammates and ensures that the team ends up getting a decent total.

As far as India are concerned, such solitary resistance has been seen a plenty of times. However, what often stands out is the relatively low total that the team ends up with despite that sort of an innings from one player.

So, let's take a look at the lowest scores India have made in Test cricket when one of their batsmen got a double century.

#5 421 against New Zealand at Mumbai, 1955

Vinoo Mankad
Vinoo Mankad scored 223 in 470 minutes

He remains one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played for India and back in 1955, Vinoo Mankad produced a one-man show in Mumbai to help India record a resounding victory against New Zealand. The right-hander opened the innings but hardly got any support as India kept losing wickets and stalwarts like Polly Umrigar and Vijay Manjrekar scored 15 and 0 respectively.

It was only the number five Kripal Singh, who gave him the much-needed support. Mankad scored 223 in 470 minutes and as many as 22 boundaries during the course of his epic knock. The next highest score in the innings was 63 by Singh and India's innings folded for 421. However, that proved to be enough as India cantered to an innings and 27 runs victory.

#4 410/1 against Pakistan at Lahore, 2006

First Test - India v South Africa: Day 3
Virender Sehwag scored a scintillating 254 off 247 deliveries

This was not really a case of batting failure but a run fest that veered into the absurd as India's opening batsmen feasted on the Pakistani bowling attack on a flat pitch at Lahore.

Pakistan batted first and declared their innings closed at 679/7. When India batted, openers Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid put on a show of their own as they appeared completely at ease against a potent attack consisting of bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria among others.

They put on an opening partnership of 410 and Sehwag scored a scintillating 254 off 247 deliveries and hit an astonishing 47 boundaries in addition to 1 six. Dravid made 128 and by the time the match was called off, number three VVS Laxman had played only 3 deliveries with no addition to the runs the openers had put on.

#3 387 against the West Indies at Kingston, 1971

Sardesai Bats
Dilip Sardesai scored a brilliant double hundred in the first innings at Kingston

The 1971 tour of the West Indies has gone into Indian cricket's folklore due to the historic series victory. However, India's tour could have been different had Dilip Sardesai scored a brilliant double hundred in the first innings at Kingston and saved the team from a top-order implosion. The West Indian bowlers had reduced India to 75/5 on the first day of the game after Garry Sobers had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first.

When it looked like the innings was going to end fairly quickly, Sardesai played an outstanding innings and with able support from Eknath Solkar (61) got India out of trouble.

The right-hander made a superb 212 and hit 12 boundaries, in addition to a solitary six as India recovered to make 387. The match ended in a draw.

#2 374 against Pakistan at Jalandhar, 1983

Anshuman Gaekwad
Anshuman Gaekwad stayed at the crease for more than 11 hours and hit 17 boundaries en route to his 201

After Pakistan had scored 337 in their first innings in the 2nd Test against India at Jalandhar, the hosts' response was centred around a superb double hundred from opening batsman Anshuman Gaekwad. India were in early trouble as Gavaskar went for 5 and Mohinder Amarnath for 7. They had slumped to 20 for 2 and the Test match could have taken a bad turn had Gaekwad not put his foot down and single-handedly pulled India out of trouble.

He stayed at the crease for more than 11 hours and hit 17 boundaries en route to his 201.

The next highest score in the innings was 54 by Roger Binny and it was the support from the middle-order that helped India score 374, which saw them gain a 37 run lead. The match, however, ended in a draw as the 3rd day's play was washed out due to rain.

#1 329 against Sri Lanka at Galle, 2010

First Test - Day Two:  India v Australia
Virender Sehwag stayed at the crease for 231 deliveries and hit 201

The 2010 tour of Sri Lanka was an eminently forgettable one for the Indians as they struggled against Ajantha Mendis and regularly found themselves on the wrong side of the DRS. However, the 2nd Test at Galle was the only bright point in the series for them as they registered an excellent win. It was set up by India's first innings and in particular through the batting of belligerent opener Virender Sehwag, who went after the Sri Lankan spinners from the outset.

After the openers, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir (56), had put on 167 for the first wicket, India lost their way. Rahul Dravid went for 2, while Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly scored 5 and 0 respectively. Sehwag stayed at the crease for 231 deliveries and hit 201, which included 22 boundaries as well as 4 sixes. It is incredible that India ended up scoring only 329 and it remains the lowest total by India in a Test innings in which a batsman got a double hundred.

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Edited by Tanya Rudra