Test cricket is a game of patience, skill, and moments of pressure. Over the years, Team India has pulled off some heart-stopping wins where even a few runs made all the difference. Here’s a look at India’s five closest victories in Test matches by run margin, including the latest thriller at The Oval in 2025.
5. 37 Runs vs West Indies – Port of Spain, 2002
- Match Date: April 19-23, 2002
- Venue: Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain
- Opponent: West Indies
- Result: India won by 37 runs
India defended a modest target of 313 with disciplined bowling. Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, and Anil Kumble took key wickets to bowl West Indies out for 275. This match is remembered for the teamwork and excellent captaincy by Sourav Ganguly.
4. 31 Runs vs Australia – Adelaide, 2018
- Match Date: December 6-10, 2018
- Venue: Adelaide Oval
- Opponent: Australia
- Result: India won by 31 runs
In this nail-biter, India set a target of 323. Australia fought hard but eventually fell short, being bowled out for 291. Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mohammed Shami shared the wickets, while Cheteshwar Pujara’s century in the first innings was the backbone of India’s win. This was India’s first Test victory in Adelaide and a strong start to their 2018-19 series win.
3. 28 Runs vs England – Eden Gardens, 1972-73
- Match Date: December 30, 1972, to January 4, 1973
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Opponent: England
- Result: India won by 28 runs
England needed just 192 to win in Kolkata, but Indian spinners led by Bishan Singh Bedi (5 wickets) and BS Chandrasekhar (4 wickets) restricted them to 163. It was a brilliant display of spin bowling on a tough pitch and showcased India’s home dominance during the early 70s.
2. 13 Runs vs Australia – Wankhede, 2004
- Match Date: November 3-5, 2004
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Opponent: Australia
- Result: India won by 13 runs
This match is remembered for its dramatic collapse and low-scoring tension. India set Australia a target of 107, but the Aussie batting lineup crumbled for 93. Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik troubled the Australian batters with their spin bowling. Despite the low score, India’s fightback made it one of their most thrilling wins at home.
1. 6 Runs vs England – The Oval, 2025
- Match Date: July 31 – August 4, 2025
- Venue: The Oval, London
- Opponent: England
- Result: India won by 6 runs
India’s narrowest-ever Test win by runs came at The Oval, where the team stayed calm under pressure to pull off a thrilling victory. On the final morning, England needed only 35 more runs with 4 wickets remaining while chasing 374. But thanks to a stunning spell by Mohammed Siraj (5/104) and Prasidh Krishna, India bowled them out for 367, winning by just 6 runs.
This broke India’s earlier record for the smallest winning margin and has now become a memorable moment in Test cricket history.
Summary Table – India’s Smallest Wins by Runs
| Rank | Margin of Victory | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 runs | England | The Oval | 2025 |
| 2 | 13 runs | Australia | Wankhede, Mumbai | 2004 |
| 3 | 28 runs | England | Eden Gardens | 1973 |
| 4 | 31 runs | Australia | Adelaide Oval | 2018 |
| 5 | 37 runs | West Indies | Port of Spain | 2002 |
Conclusion
These five matches show how India stayed calm under pressure and kept fighting right until the final ball. The Oval Test of 2025 is the newest and narrowest of them all, a match that will go down in history as one of India’s most dramatic Test wins ever.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
