Top 5: Lowest Innings Totals in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

We have seen the highest innings total posted by teams in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) history, which depicts the dominance of the batters. At the same time, we have had bowlers from both countries who have held centre stage in this series.

Here is the list of the 5 lowest-ever totals registered by teams in the BGT series.

5. 105 by India – 2017, Pune

India suffered a shocking yet resounding defeat at the hands of Australia in the first Test of the 2017 BGT series in Pune.

The Aussies made a decent total on a turning track in the first innings, scoring 260 runs. The hosts in their response had a torrid time with the bat, falling to the left-arm spin of Steve O’Keefe, who picked up 6/35.

They were eventually bowled out for 105, which is the fifth-lowest total in Border-Gavaskar Trophy history, and the Aussies gained a significant 155-run lead. The visitors set an improbable 441-run target for the home side after amassing 285 in their second innings and won by 333 runs.

Incidentally, India’s fourth innings total was 107, which is currently the sixth-lowest total in BGT.

4. 104 by India – 2004, Mumbai &

3. 93 by Australia – 2004, Mumbai

This supposedly dead rubber game of the 2004 BGT series turned out to be a thriller as the pendulum swung both sides before India got a consolation win by 13 runs.

Leading 2-0 in the four-match series, Australia pretty much had the trophy in the bag and started the Mumbai Test on a strong note by bowling out the hosts cheaply for 104 runs, with pacers doing the maximum damage. They gained a healthy 99-run first innings lead, and going by the nature of the surface, they looked set to take the series 3-0.

But India made a strong comeback by producing a much better batting display, making 205 runs and setting Australia a target of 107 runs. In pursuit of a relatively chasable yet tricky target, Australia lost wickets at heaps to the spin bowling of Harbhajan Singh, Murli Kartik, and Anil Kumble.

The trio picked up 9 wickets between them as India came home victors by just 13 runs. While India’s 104 in the first innings was the fourth lowest in BGT, 93 by Australia turned out to be the third lowest in BGT history.

Also Read | Top 5: Most Centuries in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

2. 91 by Australia – 2023, Nagpur

The visiting Aussie team had a tough start to their 2023 tour of India as things turned square right from the first day at Nagpur. A relentless attack from Indian spinners saw Australia getting bundled out inside 66 overs and could amass only 191 runs.

India, in turn, scored a mighty 400 on that wicket, and Australia required something special to get away with a favourable result. But on the expected lines, the Indian spinners, led by Ravi Ashwin, once again dominated the proceedings as the visitors lost all their wickets for just 91 runs, scripting their lowest total ever in BGT.

1. 36 by India – 2020, Adelaide

In what could be termed a shocking turn of events, a strong-looking batting lineup of India, at least on paper, abruptly surrendered to Australia’s quicks on the third day of the day-night Test at Adelaide.

India gained a significant 53-run lead at the halfway mark of the Test and were expected to exert pressure on the home side in the second innings.

But the unthinkable happened as Indian batters fell like nine pins in the first session of day 3 and got bowled out for mere 36 runs. Australia went on to win the game by 8 wickets.

This was the joint fifth-lowest total in the history of Tests and the lowest since 1955.