Top 5 narrowest wins for India in test cricket (by runs)

India’s narrowest win, by runs, in test cricket came in 2025.

Indian Cricket Team have always been among the top sides in test cricket. They have found quite a bit of success in the hardest format of the game. They have dominated teams and have also recorded some of the craziest wins ever.

Something similar we will talk about here below. A test win is always special because it takes a lot of hard work to win. But some wins are remembered for a long time because of the pressure they come with.

India have some amazing test wins where they were almost out of the match but came back stronger to record a win. So let’s dive into the five narrowest wins (by runs) for India in test cricket.

List of Top 5 narrowest wins for India in test cricket (by runs)

5. 37 runs vs West Indies, Port of Spain, 2002

One of the closest wins for India came at Port of Spain in 2002 against the West Indies. India had a first-innings lead of 84 runs. But they failed in their second innings and made 218 runs. West Indies had to chase 313 runs, and they were 237/4 at one stage, needing 76 runs more to win.

But they had a batting collapse and lost last six wickets for just 33 runs and were bowled out for 275. That helped India win the game by 37 runs.

4. 31 runs vs Australia, Adelaide, 2018

The win in the first test at Adelaide Oval during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2018-19 set the tone for India’s first-ever test series win in Australia. It wasn’t an easy win, as India had to work hard for it. After the first innings for both sides, India had a 15-run lead.

Cheteshwar Pujara (71) and Ajinkya Rahane (70) helped India reach 307 runs in the second innings, setting the hosts a target of 323. Australia struggled early on and were at 115/5 while chasing 323. But once again their late order fought and added small partnerships. But eventually, they fell short by just 31 runs, and India recorded a famous win.

3. 28 runs vs England, Eden Gardens, 1972

Eden Gardens has witnessed some great wins in Indian cricket history. One of them came against England in 1972 when India won by 28 runs. It was a low-scoring game. India made 210 and 155 in two innings, and England scored 174 and 163 runs.

While chasing 192 runs to win, England reached 114/4, but the spin duo of Bishan Singh Bedi (5/63) and Bhagwath Chandrasekhar (4/42) pulled things back and helped India register a great win by just 28 runs.

2. 13 runs vs Australia, Wankhede, 2004

The Wankhede test in 2004 between India and Australia saw one of the craziest matches ever. Australia were the world champions, and they were favourites to win the game with a lead of 99 runs in the first innings. A 69-run knock from VVS Laxman and some contributions helped India score 205 runs in the second innings.

But, a target of 107 was never enough against a team full of match-winners. However, India had some different plans. Harbhajan Singh (5/29) and Murali Karthik (3/32) used the conditions well and bowled out Australia for just 93 runs, winning by a margin of just 13 runs. This is also India’s lowest-defended total in test cricket.

1. 6 runs vs England, Oval, 2025

The narrowest win margin for India was recorded at The Oval against England in 2025. India came into this game trailing by 1-2 and were favorites to win the test when they gave England a target of 374 runs. But, centuries from Harry Brook (111) and Joe Root (105) put England in the driving seat.

The hosts needed 35 runs with four wickets in hand on final day of the test. But, that is when India showed a great bowling display led by Mohammed Siraj. They bowled England out for 367, winning the game by just six runs, which is their narrowest win margin in test cricket. Siraj picked up nine wickets in the game and won Player of the Match award.

(All stats updated till 4th August, 2025)

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