Most Overs Batted in 4th innings by India

Recently, Indian team played unbelievable cricket to draw the 3rd Test match of the series against Australia (Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21) on Sydney Cricket Ground. This was the highest overs played since 1980 (last 40 years) by Indian side. The Indian team has done this so many times in the history of Test cricket. Check the following table to see the most overs batted by team India. 

Most Overs Batted in 4th innings by Indian Team

1. 150.5 Overs against England

The Indian team had played most 150.5 overs in 4th inning against England at The Oval in 1979. The Indian team had made 429 runs with a loss of 8 wickets and played most overs in the history of test cricket in 4th inning to draw the match. The match was held on August 30, 1979. It was a target of 438 runs for India to win the match. Sunil Gavaskar had played a brilliant inning for India and made most 221 runs. He had played most 443 balls for the Indian team in 4th inning. Chetan Chauhan had also made 80 runs in 263 balls. Indian openers had made an opening partnership of 213 runs and Indian top-order had shown quality performance in this match which had helped the team to draw the match. England team had bowled 150.5 overs but failed to win the match. Sunil Gavaskar was selected as player of the match for his brilliant 221 runs in 4th innings which helped Indian team to draw the test match.

2. 136 overs against WI

Back in 1948-49, the Indian team had played 136 overs in 4th inning against West Indies at Kolkata. It was a target of 431 runs to win the match for the Indian team. The Indian team had played 136 overs, made 325 runs with a loss of 3 wickets and the match was drawn. Mushtaq Ali had made most 106 runs for the Indian team in 4th inning of the match and gave a brilliant start to the team. Vijay Hazare and Lala Amarnath had finished as not out at the end of the last day of the match and helped the team to escape from facing defeat. This drawn match was like snatching a victory from a strong West Indian side. It was an unbelievable performance by Indian batting and unconditional determination showed by batsmen. The mindset of the batsmen had helped them to draw the test match and not to throw wickets easily.

3. 132 overs against WI

The Indian team had played 132 overs in 4th inning against West Indies back in 1958-59 in Mumbai. The Indian team had made 289 with the loss of 5 wickets. It was a big target of 399 runs for India to win the match. Pankaj Roy had made most 90 runs in 4th inning of the match for India and Gulabrai Ramchand had made not out 67 runs which helped the team to draw the test match. The Indian team had played with courage and faced 132 overs in 4th inning against the quality bowling attack of West Indies. It was a big drawn match for the Indian team in the history of cricket.

4. 131 overs against Pakistan

India had played 131 overs in 4th inning of the test match played against Pakistan in 1979-80 in Delhi. It was a big target of 390 runs against the strong bowling attack of Pakistan on turning track of Delhi. The Indian team had played 131 overs to draw the test match and it was a big victory for the Indian team to escape from such a critical situation in the match. It was an unbelievable performance by batsmen. India had made 364 runs with a loss of 6 wickets. Dilip Vengsarkar was the hero of the match. He had made unbeaten 146 runs and played most 370 balls for India. Yashpal Sharma had also made 60 runs and played 135 balls in 4th inning. D Vengsarkar had batted for the whole day on day 5 to draw the test match.

5. 131 overs against Australia

India had played 131 overs against Australia to escape the test match result and draw it. The match was played on January 7-11, 2021 at Sydney Cricket Ground. The Australian team was on top and was very close to victory. It was a target of 407 runs for the Indian team to win the match. Rishabh Pant had scored most 97 runs for India and made a brilliant partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara. Indian team did a brilliant comeback with that partnership and motivated other players to do same for the team. The partnership made by Hanuma Vihari and R Ashwin had changed the game. Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin had played almost 43 overs together to draw the match. H Vihari had played 161 balls and made 23 not out runs with a broken hamstring. R Ashwin had also played 128 balls and made not out 39 runs. India had made 334 runs with a loss of 5 wickets and the test match was drawn. It was a mentally win for Indian team over host Australians.

6. 107 overs against WI

The Indian team had played 107 overs to draw the test match in 4th inning against West Indies in 1948-49 in Mumbai. It was a target of 361 runs to win the match and the Indian team had made 355 runs with a loss of 8 wickets. Vijay Hazare had made most 122 runs for India and Rusi Modi also had made 86 runs. Dattu Phadkar had made not out 37 runs which led the team to draw the match. He had played brilliant inning with tail-enders of the team. The Indian team had batted whole day to draw this match. Vijay Hazare and Rusi Modi had made a partnership of 139 runs for 4th wicket and provided the foundation to fight back against the dominant West Indian team.

7. 103 overs against West Indies

India had played 103 overs back in 1970-71 against West Indies in Bridgetown to draw the test match in 4th inning. It was a big target of 335 runs and the Indian team was also struggling in this match with the fitness of players after fielding so long. The Indian team had made 221 runs with the loss of 5 wickets after 103 overs in 4th inning. Sunil Gavaskar had played a brilliant inning of 117 runs. He had finished as not out on day 5 and helped the team to draw the match. He did not get any support from other end batsmen but he did it by himself for team India. He had played most of the balls bowled on day 5 and with his solid defence and determination, he helped Indian team to not be on the losing side. It was something like miracle performance by Sunil Gavaskar away from home. The Indian team had maintained 1-0 led in this series.