India’s dismal performance in the opening Test of the 4-match series against Australia was a rude shock for the hosts and their fans.
The Australian team, which was being dubbed as the weakest to have ever toured the subcontinent, dominated India thoroughly and steamrolled them effortlessly to beat them by a margin of 333 runs.
This heavy defeat was a result of sheer incompetence and unpreparedness. While India, in recent times, have proven to be strong for the oppositions; there have been many occasions where they have been completely outclassed.
India v Australia, 2004:
The Australian party which toured in 2004 was perhaps the strongest team to have ever toured the country. They were here to dominate India and they did it in style by winning the series 2-1.
It was the first series win in India for about 35 years. While the entire series was a memorable one, the second Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium, Nagpur forever remains in the mind of the cricket fans for the humiliating loss that the visitors handed the hosts.
Powered by solid batting performances from Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich along with bowling antics of Jason Gillespie, the Australians knocked over the hosts to win the match by 342 runs. This margin remains the biggest loss for India on its own soil.
India v Australia, 2017:
Visiting spinner Steve O’ Keefe emerged as the surprise weapon in the opening Test of Australia tour in 2017 as the left arm spinner wreaked havoc with a stunning spell of 12/70 – 6/35 – in each innings of the match to single-handedly help Australia demolish India by 333 runs.
The MCA Stadium once again proved as a graveyard for the hosts as they managed just 105 and 107 in both the innings. A series of dropped catches and poor DRS calls added to the embarrassment as the hosts slumped to its second worst defeat at home.
It would completely illogical of even think that a team would win after posting such sub-standard batting performance.
India v South Africa, 1996:
South Africa had a happy hunting time against India at the Eden Garden, Kolkata during the second Test of the three-match series. A fourth innings slump triggered by the all-rounder Lance Klusener saw India collapse to just 137 after being asked to chase 476 runs. The poor batting show meant the hosts lost the match by 329 runs eventually.
It was a sort of nicely fought contest in which South Africa maintained a slight upper handed. Twin centuries from Gary Kirsten and similar knocks from Daryl Cullinan and Andrew Hudson set the platform for the win. The Indians, led by the resilient batting from Mohammad Azharuddin kept India in the contest. But Klusener’s bowling show sealed the match in the Proteas’ favour.
India v West Indies, 1959:
West Indies were on top of the hosts in the 4th Test in Madras (Chennai). Fielding under the new leadership of Vinoo Mankad, India were inflicted its 4th heaviest loss at hands of a visiting team. Coming out to bat first, West Indies posted 500 on the board with the help of century from Basil Butcher. India, in reply, were flattened by the bowling of Gary Sobers who claimed 4 wickets for 26 as India managed just 222 in reply.
The hosts were staring at an innings defeat by an innings but opposition skipper Gerry Alexander decided not to enforce the follow-on. His batsman made the job easier for him as they piled 198/5 in the second to set a 447 runs target for India. The chase was never going to happen as the Indians were rolled over for just 151, thus losing the match by 295 runs.
India v West Indies, 1974:
India’s shabby batting performance in the fourth innings yet again against the same opposition to clinch a famous win. The match, which was a closely fought contest for the initial four days ended up being a one-sided event on the final day of the rain-affected match. Batting first, West Indies posted 289 against the string Indian bowling attack comprising of Bhagwat Chandrashekar, EAS Prasanna, and S. Venkatraghavan.
India gave a functional reply, scoring 260 with the help of a fifty from Hemant Kanitkar. The Calypso Kings, however, came stronger and piled on 356 with Gordon Greenidge and Clive Llyod slamming centuries to set a 385 runs target. The West Indies bowler did a commendable job and took great advantage of the pitch to bowl out India for just and ensuring a smooth 267 runs win.