India’s smallest test wins by runs: Reliving the most tense victories

India pulled off a thrilling six-run win against England in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, marking their narrowest-ever victory by runs in the format. The match, held at The Oval from July 31 to August 4, saw India, led by Shubman Gill, successfully defend a target of 374 runs on the final day.

England required just 35 runs to win when play resumed on Monday (August 4), but they were bundled out for only 28 runs, losing four crucial wickets and handing India a memorable victory.

Mohammed Siraj was the standout performer with the ball, claiming five wickets for 104 runs in 30.1 overs. Prasidh Krishna also played a key role, picking up four wickets while conceding 126 runs in his 27 overs.

This six-run win is now the smallest margin by which India have won a Test match in terms of runs. The second record stood at 13 runs, achieved against Australia at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 2004.

In third place is India’s 28-run win against England at Kolkata in 1972, achieved while defending a total of 192. This is followed by the 2018 Adelaide Test, where India defeated Australia by 31 runs after setting a target of 323.

The fifth smallest margin came in 2002, when India edged past West Indies by 37 runs at Port of Spain, defending a target of 313. In 2006, they again defended a score of 269 to win by 49 runs against the West Indies in Kingston.

India’s 59-run win over Australia at Melbourne in 1981, where the target was 143, is next on the list. In 1969 India managed to beat New Zealand by 60 runs at Mumbai (Brabourne Stadium) with a target of 188.

Rounding off the list are two matches where the margin stood at 63 runs. The first was in 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston, with a target of 326. The second came in 2018, when India defeated South Africa in Johannesburg after setting a target of 241.