Delhi: In Test cricket, when a team scores a big score of around 500 in the first innings and bowls out the opposition cheaply, then giving follow-on seems to be the easiest decision. Its purpose is clear. Call the opposition team to bat again and win the match by taking the remaining wickets quickly.
However, cricket does not always go according to plan. Many times the team playing follow-on struggles so much that the team in a stronger position loses the victory. There have been many such occasions in India's Test history also.
The biggest example of this is the 2001 Kolkata Test against Australia, where India registered a historic win after follow-on. But apart from this, India itself has been deprived of victory after giving follow-on several times.
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In this article, we will mention 5 such test matches, in which India followed on, but could not win.
1. Sri Lanka vs India, 2026 – Colombo Test
The second Test played in Colombo was included in this list. After winning the Galle Test, India had a great chance to win the series 2-0. Batting first, India declared the innings after scoring 503/9 runs. Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel scored centuries to take the team to a big score. In reply, Sri Lanka's first innings ended at 290 runs.
India had a huge lead of 213 runs. Considering the weather, captain Shubman Gill decided to follow on, but the story completely changed in the second innings. Sri Lankan batsmen batted for 154 overs and made a score of 429/9. Sonal Dinusha also scored an unbeaten 133 runs while scoring a century in the second innings.
When Sri Lanka's score was 429/9, there was about an hour left in the match. Both the teams shook hands and the match ended in a draw. India won the series 1-0, but the chance to win after the follow-on was lost.
2. Bangladesh vs India, 2015 – Fatullah Test
The only Test between India and the host team during the Bangladesh tour in 2015 was also a draw. However, India had implemented follow-on in this match. Batting first, India scored 462/6. Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan made a brilliant partnership of 283 runs for the first wicket. After this Ajinkya Rahane scored 98 runs.
A lot of time was lost in the match due to rain. Bangladesh's first innings was reduced to 256 runs and India got a big lead.
Captain Virat Kohli decided to follow on, but India got a chance to bowl only 15 overs in the second innings. After this the match was drawn due to rain and bad weather. Here the weather became the biggest obstacle in the way of India's victory.
3. West Indies vs India, 2006 – Gros Islet
On the Caribbean tour in 2006, India batted first in the second test and made a mammoth score of 588/6. Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif scored centuries.
In reply, West Indies' first innings ended at just 215 runs. India got a big lead and Rahul Dravid enforced follow-on, but West Indies made a brilliant comeback in the second innings. The host team batted 119 overs and scored 294/7.
Captain Brian Lara played a very patient inning of 120 not out off 307 balls. Rain spoiled the play on the fourth day and finally the match ended in a draw. India was far ahead of victory, but Lara's innings helped West Indies save the match.
4. Australia vs India, 2019 – Sydney Test
India had already won the series in the Sydney Test of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite this, the team had a chance to achieve a big victory in the last test. Batting first, India scored 622/7 runs. Cheteshwar Pujara played a brilliant inning of 193 runs, while Rishabh Pant scored unbeaten 159 runs.
In response, the Australian team was all out for 300 runs. Kuldeep Yadav bowled brilliantly and took five wickets. India got a big lead and Virat Kohli enforced follow-on. But rain once again spoiled India's game.
Australia could bat only four overs in the second innings. After this, due to continuous rain the match could not proceed and the match was drawn.
5. India vs Zimbabwe, 2000 – Nagpur Test
In the second Test played between India and Zimbabwe in Nagpur in 2000, India had also given follow-on, but could not win.
Batting first, India scored a huge score of 609/6. Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten double century, while Shiv Sundar Das and Rahul Dravid also scored centuries. Zimbabwe scored 382 runs in reply and had to play follow-on.
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After this, Zimbabwe saved the match by batting for almost two days. Andy Flower played a brilliant inning of 232 not out off 444 balls. Thanks to his innings, Zimbabwe scored 503/6 in 161 overs.
At one time Zimbabwe was in trouble at 61/3, but the partnership of Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell changed the course of the match. Both of them saved their team from defeat by batting around 400 balls.