India’s Lowest Totals In T20I History

Lowest India totals in T20I history [Source: AFP]

Team India holds one of the most formidable batting line-ups in T20I cricket. India's experienced and explosive batting unit helped them win successive T20 World Cups in 2024 and 2026, along with the Asia Cup T20 title in between, establishing them as the undisputed champions of the format.

However, even the best can crumble under pressure from time to time. Team India’s reckoning caught up with them in Nottingham against England in July 2026, just a few months after lifting the T20 World Cup. Here, we take an updated look at five of India’s lowest team totals in T20I cricket history after their Trent Bridge misery. 

5. India 92 all out vs South Africa, Cuttack 2015

Team India, under MS Dhoni, batted first in Cuttack during their second T20I of the home series against South Africa way back in October 2015. A couple of key run outs and early spells from Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris devastated the hosts at 45-4, and eventually to 92 all out in 17.2 overs.

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Interestingly, opening batter Rohit Sharma and number four Suresh Raina themselves aggregated 44 runs combined, and the team also received 11-run assistance through extras from the South Africans. Shikhar Dhawan and legendary all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin were the only other batters who touched the double digits as India lost the match by six wickets.

4. India 81-8 vs Sri Lanka, Colombo 2021

After sealing the three-match T20I series 2-0 in Sri Lanka in July 2021, India took on the hosts in the dead-rubber third T20I in Colombo. Batting first, the ‘Men in Blue’ were restricted to just 81-8 from 20 overs upfront. 

Strangely enough, it was Kuldeep Yadav who top-scored in the innings by composing 23* from 28 balls. Ruturaj Gaikwad and fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar barely managed to hit the double digits, as Sri Lanka ace Wanindu Hasaranga delivered exceptional match-winning figures of 4-9 from four overs for his side.

3. India 79 all out vs New Zealand, Nagpur 2016

India bundled out for just 79 in 18.1 overs against New Zealand in Nagpur during India’s opening Group 2 match of the 2016 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. After bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Suresh Raina restricted New Zealand to just 126-7, Indian batters failed to handle the visitor’s spin threat, ably led by Nathan McCullum, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi. 

Santner picked up figures of 4-11, while Sodhi snared 3-18 as MS Dhoni and co. fell short by a huge margin of 47 runs. To date, India’s 79-run effort remains their lowest T20I total in any World Cup game.

2. India 76 all out vs England, Nottingham 2026

Trailing 0-1 down in the five-match series in England in July 2026 shortly after lifting the 2026 T20 World Cup, India bundled out for just 76 in 11.4 overs to go 0-2 down on the tour. Chasing 202 runs for a win, India lost openers Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as well as Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer and all-rounder Axar Patel inside the powerplay overs. 

The ‘Men in Blue’ lost the match by 125 runs, thus also recording one of their biggest defeats in T20I cricket in the process.

1. India 74 all out vs Australia, Melbourne 2008

Way back in February 2008, Team India played one of its earliest T20Is against Australia at the iconic MCG mere months after lifting the inaugural World T20 crown. Batting first, the Indian batting line-up got blown away by a Nathan Bracken-led Australian attack. 

Adam Voges also picked up two, while gun fielder and home captain Michael Clarke pulled off a stunning run out of Virender Sehwag to get the ball rolling for Australia. Clarke also made 37* off 36 balls as Australia pulverized India by nine wickets in the match.

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