Lowest totals by India in T20Is

It has become a trend for the Indian batting line-up to choke at important stages in crucial contests. While batting first, the picture is cloudy, but still it speaks for the instances when the Indian batsmen fell prey to pressure. Here is a list of the lowest T20I totals by India while batting first :

5) 141/9 vs Pakistan : ICC World Twenty20 – 14 September 2007 : Kingsmead, Durban

In a high voltage league match between the arch rivals, Pakistan chose to bowl first. The debutant, Mohammad Asif shattered the batting line-up of India, taking four wickets and conceding a meager 18 runs.

Fighting innings from Robin Uthappa (50 runs) & MS Dhoni (33 runs) helped India reach a respectable total of 141/9 in 20 overs. Pakistan managed to tie the match with Misbah-ul-Haq’s half century. In the end, India won the match in the bowl out by 3-0.

4) 130/4 vs Sri Lanka : ICC World T20 Final – 6 April 2014 : Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

In a thrilling encounter where the Indian team was the favourite, there was an indecent performance by the Indian batsmen, that broke many hearts. Owing to Sri Lanka’s exceptional bowling, no Indian player could play a pivot role.

Even Virat Kohli, who was declared as the Man of the Tournament, couldn’t make his innings count and in the end, India managed a paltry 130 runs in total. Quite evidently, the Sri Lankans eased off to a steady victory to seal their first ICC World T20 cup.

3) 120/9 vs England : 29 October 2011 : Eden Gardens, Kolkata

In the only T20I of the England’s tour, the Indian batting crumbled once again. After winning the toss, the Indians came out to bat with dreams of a high total. Wickets started tumbling right from the beginning without any halt and the Indian innings was curbed to 120/9 in the allotted quota of overs.

Suresh Raina was the top scorer with 39 runs. Debutant, Manoj Tiwary chipped in with 15 runs only. Finn & Bresnan took 3 & 2 wickets respectively at economies of less than 6. Riding on Pietersen’s half-century (53 runs off 42 balls), England reached the target with 6 wickets in hand and 8 balls to spare. It was a rare victory for England in the sad tour.

2) 92 all out vs South Africa : 5 October 2015 : Barabati Stadium, Cuttack

In a must win game for India to save the series, the batsmen again starred in a flop shop by the team. In a completely opposite display of batting as compared to the previous match, the players seemed helpless in front of the South African bowling unit. The high standards of fielding by the Africans proved to be pivotal in breaking the backbone of the Indians.

With Rohit Sharma & Suresh Raina scoring 22 runs each, the Indian team was left deserted at 92 runs in 18th over. None of the batsmen seemed to be in touch and the result was an erratic performance. South Africa cruised to a six-wicket victory with JP Duminy again leading the pack with 30* runs.

1) 74 all out vs Australia : 1 February 2008 : Melbourne Cricket Ground

In the sole T20I of the tour, India won the toss and chose to bat. Pretty determined to set a decent total, the Indian batsmen could do nothing as per the expectations. Sehwag’s run-out started a downfall that seemed to be inevitable. Wickets fell in such a haste that within almost an hour, the entire Indian team was back in the pavilion at the score of 74 runs.

Irfan Pathan was the top scorer with 26 runs. No other player could even reach the two-figure mark. Nathan Bracken was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets. Australians started in a quick-fire style and eased off to seal an emphatic win in the 12th over itself. Another day ended with a dismal batting performance by the Indians, giving India its lowest T20I score till date.