5 biggest Test wins for India in terms of runs

#1 335 runs vs South Africa (Delhi - 2015)

Rahane was the lone

century maker

in the series

The India-South Africa Test series in 2015 will be remembered for a couple of reasons. First, India produced rank turners in the same, which lead the first and third Tests to get over within just 3 days. The pitch used in Nagpur was rated poor by the match referee as well and the batsmen had very little chance to showcase their talent.

The second next reason was the 'blockathon' displayed by South Africa in the fourth Test of the series.

The pitch in Delhi was not an out-and-out turner where the ball spun from the first ball. Already 2-0 up in the series, India won the toss and chose to bat first. On the back of Rahane’s brilliant 127 (which was the first ton of the series) and vital contributions from Ashwin (56) and Kohli (44), India reached 334 in the first innings. It was the first 300+ total of the series.

In reply, South Africa imploded. Jadeja (5/30) ran through the Proteas batting line-up as they were skittled out for just 121.

Despite having a lead of 213 runs, India opted against the follow-on and batted one more time. Rahane, once again, was the star with the bat. He scored his second hundred of the game and was supported well by Kohli, who made a very good 88 in the innings.

India declared a before lunch on Day 4 and set South Africa a daunting target of 481. The surface had deteriorated as the match progressed, hence the odds were stacked heavily against the visitors.

However, they were determined to save the game. And what followed was a magnificent blocking game by the Proteas. It had worked successfully for them three years back against Australia in Adelaide and they were at it once again in Delhi.

South Africa lost Dean Elgar in the fourth over but the batsmen who followed exhibited supreme patience, grit and determination to see off the game.

Temba Bavuma, playing just the 4th Test of his career, played 117 deliveries for 34 runs, Hashim Amla batted for almost 5 hours and scored 25 (in 244 balls), AB de Villiers was at the crease for 6 hours and made just 43 (in 297 balls). Faf du Plessis, too, fought well in the middle.

At tea on day 5, it looked like South Africa would pull off an unimaginable draw.

However, Umesh Yadav took 3/9 and to end the South African resistance and run through their lower order. Ashwin ended with figures of 5/61 in the innings. The visitors batted for 143.1 overs and scored 143, but lost by a huge margin of 335 runs, eventually.

Brief Scores: India 334 (Rahane 127, Ashwin 56, Abbott 5-40, Piedt 4-117) and 267 for 5 dec (Rahane 100*, Kohli 88, Morkel 3-51) beat South Africa 121 (de Villiers 43, Jadeja 5-30) and 143 (de Villiers 43, Ashwin 5-61, Umesh 3-9)