A run chase for the ages, that’s exactly what India need if they are to draw the Freedom Trophy 1-1 against South Africa in Guwahati. South Africa will look to set a mammoth target in the second Test to give themselves a chance to complete a historic cleansweep on Indian soil.
After failing to chase down 124 at Eden Gardens, it is to be noted that India’s highest successful run chase against South Africa in the format is 120/2. India won by eight wickets chasing 117 at Eden Gardens in 2004. Current Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir was part of the batting lineup that chased down 117 over two decades ago.
When Dravid-Dasgupta salvaged a draw
While India's highest successful run chase is 403 which came against West Indies in 1976, India's highest score in fourth innings against South Africa is 206/3.
In 2001, India scored 206/3 chasing a target of 395. Rahul Dravid top-scored with 87 from 241 deliveries. Deep Dasgupta scored 63 off 281 deliveries. Obviously, India were playing for a draw which have gone out of fashion these days with World Test Championship (WTC) points on stake. In 2021, India scored at a run rate of just over two runs per over. They took 206/3 from 96.2 overs before calling it a draw. Dravid’s 87 is the highest score by an Indian batter against South Africa in fourth innings of a Test.
The 4 Indian half-centurions vs SA in Test run chases
Only four Indian batters have scored a half-century in a run chase against South Africa in the format. Apart from Dravid and Dasgupta, Gambhir scored 64 in Cape Town in 2011. In 1996, Mohammad Azharuddin was the first to achieve the feat. He scored 52 runs at Eden Gardens, a lone effort as India lost the match by 329 runs.
What is India’s highest successful run chase at home?
While India haven’t had much success in Test run chases against the Proteas, their highest successful run chase at home came against England in 2008 in Chennai. Sachin Tendulkar's unbeaten 103, half-centuries from Gambhir (66), Virender Sehwag (83) and Yuvraj Singh (85 not out) helped India chase down 387 against Kevin Pietersen-led England.