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Some of the biggest margins of victories for India in away Tests by runs is actually a globetrotting tale that seeks to encapsulate some of the most praise-worthy and exciting moments Team India have been responsible for in gathering momentous wins. They say, Test cricket is truly the sport’s most unique format. But then how does one birth some of these unique moments? While winning a Test match is in itself a great sight, doing so in another opponent’s territory is something truly laudable. And India’s amazing success in gathering huge margins of victories in Test matches held away from home comfort truly underscores the ability to excel in both departments of the game. As no victory is ever chased alone; it’s always a joint effort and once you look at the list, you’d probably understand why that is.
Let's take a look at list of India’s biggest win margins by runs in away Tests:
1. 336 runs vs England in Birmingham
The recently completed contest at Edgbaston resulted in one of the biggest margins of victories for India in away Tests by runs, and on this occasion, a win by 336 runs. Anchored valiantly by a smashing 269 followed by a 161, while Shubman Gill fired loads of runs, 430 on his own, his team were helped by useful fifties from the likes of the incredible Jadeja and an emphatic bowling spell by both Siraj and Akash Deep, who collected 17 of England’s 20 wickets among them. A harrowing loss for England where they’ve previously enjoyed unrivalled supremacy but in India’s case, a breach of a fortress the English have held so dearly thus far.
2. 318 runs vs West Indies in Antigua in 2019
The West Indies is a fun place to play cricket, irrespective of the format and when it comes to Test match cricket, the fun amplified with old school fans gathering in notable numbers, maybe incomparable to the mighty lots of the sixties and seventies and with the likes of Ian Bishop with the mic, cricket becomes a spectacle to enjoy. Not that on that particular occasion, there was anything for the hosts to enjoy as thanks to a batting masterclass from Rahane- 81 and 102- with the bat with Ishant and Bumrah taking a fifer in the game, India lorded over the West Indies. The end result being the visitors bagging one of the biggest margins of victories for India in away Tests by runs. And on this occasion- 318 of those!
3. 304 runs vs Sri Lanka in Galle in 2017
In the year 2017, a year most remembered for Pakistan winning the Champions Trophy bout in England, their next door neighbours India accumulated one of the biggest margins in victories in away Tests by runs. This happened down in Sri Lanka in an interesting contest in Galle, wherein a victory by a margin of 304 runs was achieved. An emphatic feat no wonder!
But the chief architects of India’s glorious mountain of runs in the first inning, 600 of them, were the classy Shikhar Dhawan with a great 190 and the always dogged Pujara with a gritty 153. With the likes of Jadeja, Pandya, Yadav, Shami and Ashwin all chipping in during meaningful intervals, Sri Lanka never looked settled and always under pressure.
4. 295 runs vs Australia in Perth in 2024
Playing in Perth in 2024, the dazzling feat of Jasprit Bumrah, eight wickets in the match, including a fifer in the first innings supported ably by twin hundreds from the bats of Jaiswal and Kohli, resulted in one of the biggest margins of victories for India in away Tests by runs. Jaiswal shone brightly with an ecstatic 161 while Kohli, then still a recurring face of the formidable Test line up, scored 100 useful runs. But with the big wickets of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, along with that of the dangerous looking Alex Carey, Bumrah that day, was unplayable with the hosts having no answers for his brilliant medium pace.
5. 279 runs vs England in Leeds in 1986
In June of 1986, the visiting side to England recorded one of its biggest margins of victories in away Tests by runs when India overcame a highly talented and established team in Leeds in its 1986 game. Winning the contest by a huge margin of runs, 279 in that case, the win was at the behest of a truly wonderful batting effort from the end of the great Dilip Vengsarkar. With scores of 61 and 102*, while Vengsarkar kept the team always in contention of a strong result, great bowling performances from the end of Roger Binny and Madan Lal, 3 and 7 wickets in the contest, respectively held India firmly together in a tough contest. The game will also be remembered for Maninder Singh’s four-for in England’s second innings.
FAQ's
1. What has been Team India's biggest margin of Test win by virtue of runs?
Ans.: Thus far, it's the most recent 336-run victory secured at Edgbaston Test against England.
2. Who has been the chief contributor with the bat in this particular Test victory?
Ans.: Captain Shubman Gill, with scores of 269 and 161, which means 430 runs in the end in just one contest, was the chief contributor with the bat.
3. What has India's largest win by virtue of runs been versus the West Indies?
Ans.: In 2019, in Antigua, India struck a blow to the Windies Test team by winning the match by 318 runs. Such a huge win for the team.
