5 times India scored over 250 in the 4th innings to win a Test 

The essence of five-day cricket lies in the fact that it gives you an opportunity to strike back even if you are down in the dumps, the ability to forge one final assault and then to clinch the winning moment; Test cricket encompasses it all.

Perhaps, this is why as the match meanders along to the fourth innings, scoring runs become difficult, the pitch is not in the best of shapes and along with the skill-sets of batsmen, it is the mental ability which comes to the fore.

Now, let us take a look at India’s top efforts while chasing a target in excess of 250.

#5 262/5 vs New Zealand, 2012

Back in 2012, New Zealand toured India in what many believed was their best chance to topple the hosts in their own backyard.

The Kiwis started on the perfect note but could not drive home the winning momentum and blinked just when they seemed to edge ahead.

The story was not very different in Bengaluru where the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first.

Led by captain Ross Taylor's sublime 113, New Zealand piled up 365 in their first innings.

Virat Kohli led India's reply and his century helped the hosts score 353.

New Zealand then responded with 248 and it helped them edge ahead by 260 runs.

Kohli took centre stage once again as his half-century bolstered India’s chase and helped them edge ahead by five wickets.

#4 264/3 vs Sri Lanka, 2001

Sourav Ganguly stamped his authority over the game with an unbeaten 98

Back in 2001, India toured Sri Lanka and the teams locked horns with each other for the second Test in Kandy.

India captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and invited the hosts to bat first and his bowlers vindicated his decision.

Zaheer Khan was the pick of the bowlers as he bagged three wickets and the other bowlers chipped in too as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 274.

However, Indian batting too faltered as they were bundled out for 232.

Venkatesh Prasad and Zaheer Khan stormed India back in the match as they picked up seven wickets between them as the hosts were shot out for 221.

Ganguly decided to stamp his authority over the game with an unbeaten 98 as the visitors reached the target with seven wickets to spare.

#3 276/5 vs West Indies, 2011

Sachin Tendulkar anchored India’s innings beautifully with a 78-runs innings

The West Indies toured India for a Test series in 2011 and in the first match they won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface which looked tailor-made for spin bowling.

Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin shared nine wickets in the first innings as the visitors were dismissed for 304.

However, the Indian batting stumbled as they were shot out for a measly 209.

Despite this massive first-innings deficit, the Indian spinners spun a web around the West Indies and dismissed them for 180. R Ashwin made his presence felt with the ball as he picked up six wickets.

Sachin Tendulkar then stepped up during the chase and anchored India’s innings beautifully with a 78-runs innings. The hosts won the match by five wickets.

#2 387 vs England, Chennai, 2008

Virender Sehwag pummelled the English bowlers into submission

This Test match was played in the aftermath of the dastardly terror attacks in Mumbai.

The England team led by Kevin Pietersen landed in Chennai for the first Test match and made an immediate impact with the bat.

Andrew Strauss scored a century in each innings and India were on the mat after the touring party declared in their second innings 386 runs ahead.

And then came the Virender Sehwag whirlwind as he waltzed onto the field and pummelled the English bowlers into submission with an astounding innings of 83 in 68 balls.

Sachin Tendulkar displayed steely resolve and with the final paddle sweep which found the boundary, India completed a historic triumph and for a grieving nation, there was some joy!

#1 406/4 vs West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, 1975

Led by Sunil Gavaskar, India romped home with six wickets in hand

Perhaps, India's greatest win in the longest format, perhaps their greatest win overseas, and for all and sundry, this was definitely a watershed moment in India's Test sojourn.

The mighty West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first on a flaccid surface in Trinidad and Tobago.

Vivian Richards led the charge with a dominating 177 as the hosts piled up 359 runs in the first innings.

India responded with 228 runs and fell behind in the game significantly.

However, the Indian spinners then spun a web as S Venkataraghavan and BS Chandrashekhar shared five wickets between them as the West Indies were restricted to 271 runs in the second innings.

And then came the historic effort from the Indian batting lineup. Led by Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Viswanath, the visitors scripted an amazing heist as they romped home with six wickets in hand chasing 406 to win.