Top 5 highest team totals by India in test cricket

India have scored 700+ in an innings four times in test cricket.

Indian cricket is blessed with many batting legends. They have always had a star-studded batting unit in test cricket across generations. Batting in test cricket involves skills, determination, and a great amount of concentration. India have had terrific batting performances over the years. India have crossed 600 in an innings in test cricket 33 times, which is second most by any team in this format of the game.

On other hand, India have crossed 700 in an innings in test cricket four times. Sri Lanka hold the record for smashing the highest team total in an innings in test cricket. They put a mammoth total of 952 against India in Colombo test in 1997. So far only two teams have managed to go past the 900-run mark in an innings in test cricket. England were the first team to score 900+. They achieved it against Australia at The Oval in 1938 when they scored 903/7. But have you ever imagined what is the highest team total scored by India in an innings in test cricket? Let’s find out:

Here are the five highest team totals by Indian Cricket Team in test cricket:

5. India – 687/6 vs Bangladesh, Hyderabad 2017:

India’s fifth highest total in tests came against Bangladesh in one-off test in 2017. In this game, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, India posted a total of 687 before declaring the innings with loss of six wickets. Virat Kohli was the top-scorer for India in this game with a double hundred. Kohli scored 204 before getting trapped by Taijul Islam. With other significant contributions from Murali Vijay (108), Cheteshwar Pujara (83), Ajinkya Rahane (82), Wriddhiman Saha (106), and Ravindra Jadeja (60), India achieved a mammoth total in 166 overs.

Later in the game, India bowled out the visitors for 388 in the first innings and then added 159 runs more in the second innings to set huge target of 459. Bangladesh managed to score 250 runs only before losing all of their batters. India won this game by 208 runs in Hyderabad.

4. India – 705/7 vs Australia, Sydney 2004:

This is one of the most iconic games India ever played in the longest format of the game. India put up a total of 705 in the first innings of the SCG test in 2004. This test is mostly remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s 241. Sachin played one of the most controlled and disciplined innings ever. He didn’t play any cover drive in his entire innings of 436 balls.

With help of daddy hundreds from Sachin Tendulkar (241) and VVS Laxman (178) and some significant contributions from Aakash Chopra (45), Virender Sehwag (72) and Parthiv Patel (62), India reached to their first ever 700+ total in test cricket.

Later in the match, India dismissed the hosts Australia for 474 in the first innings and then added 211 runs in the second innings before declaring. Set a target of 443 to chase, Australia went for it, but could manage only 357/6 before the game ended in a draw.

3. India – 707 vs Sri Lanka, SSC (Colombo) 2010:

This game was played on the flattest-ever test wicket. Sri Lanka and India both managed to score above 600 runs in their first innings. The game ended in a draw as most of the time was taken to complete first innings of both sides.

Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 642 on the board, with help of hundreds from Tharanga Paranavitana (100), Kumar Sangakkara (219) and Mahela Jayawardene (174). To which, India replied with a score of 707 in 225.2 overs. Murali Vijay (58), Virender Sehwag (99), Sachin Tendulkar (203), Suresh Raina (120) and MS Dhoni (76) contributed mostly to the Indian total.

2. India – 726/9 vs Sri Lanka, Brabourne (Mumbai) 2009:

In this game, Virender Sehwag almost became first ever batsman to hit three triple hundreds in test cricket. Sri Lankan legendary bowler Muttiah Muralitharan held back Sehwag from achieving the rare feat.

India’s second-highest total in test cricket is 726, which came in this game against Sri Lanka at Brabourne, Mumbai in 2010. Batting first, Sri Lanka slammed 393 in the match, to which, India replied with 726/9 before declaring the innings. The innings consisted of a daddy hundred from Virender Sehwag, who notched up 293 runs off 254 deliveries. With contributions from MS Dhoni (100), Murali Vijay (87), Rahul Dravid (74), Sachin Tendulkar (53) and VVS Laxman (62), India posted 726 on the board.

Later in the match, India bowled out Sri Lanka for 309 in the second innings, where Zaheer Khan picked five wickets, to win the match by an innings and 24 runs.

1. India – 759/7 vs England, Chennai 2016:

India’s highest test score came against England at Chepauk in 2016. With help from daddy hundreds from KL Rahul (199) and Karun Nair (303), India posted a total of 759 runs in the first innings of the match.

Batting first in the match, England were all-out for 477. India replied back strongly in the first innings. Opener KL Rahul missed out on his double hundred and got dismissed for 199. Later in the innings, Karun Nair converted his maiden test hundred into a triple and finished his innings at 303*. Nair became second Indian batsman to hit a triple hundred in tests after Virender Sehwag. Later in the match, India bowled out England for 207 in the second innings, thanks to Ravindra Jadeja’s 7-wicket haul, and won the match by an innings and 75 runs.

(All stats updated till 14th February, 2024)

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