India has grown into one of the strongest Test teams in world cricket, but the journey has included some tough days as well. India, over the years, have suffered a few heavy defeats, especially in overseas conditions where the pitches behave very differently from home. These losses, too, played their part in molding the team into a more confident and experienced side. Here's a simple look at five of India's biggest Test defeats by runs. 5 Biggest Test Defeats for India in Terms of Runs 5. Australia Beat India by 333 Runs - Pune, 2017 The Pune Test in 2017 turned out to be a nightmare for India, all because of Australia spinner Steve O'Keefe. With just a handful of Tests behind him, O'Keefe shocked everybody with his 12 wickets in the match. Virat Kohli losing the Test at home, the first under his captaincy, saw India being bowled out for a mere score in both innings. The pitch had some sharp spin and was used to good effect by both O'Keefe and Nathan Lyon. Even the top scorers, Kohli and Rahane, were caught net in a maze of uncertainty. Kohli's dismissal while leaving a ball that clipped the stumps became an epitome of India's struggle against spin at home. Also Read | India’s Highest Successful Run Chases in Test Cricket: Top 5 List 4. Australia Beat India by 337 Runs - Melbourne, 2007 India suffered a big defeat at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test of 2007-08. An explosive start was given by Australia, courtesy of their openers scoring well over 250 runs for the first wicket. The Indian bowlers never gained early breakthroughs to allow Australia to score 567 in the first innings. That first innings had begun well for India, but they let it slip and were all out for 196. Though Australia failed to enforce the follow-on, they posted an equally imposing lead and set India a target of more than 450. India crumbled again and was bowled out for 161, losing the match by 337 runs. Also Read | Did Palaash Muchhal Cheat on Smriti Mandhana? Woman Shares Chat Screenshots 3. Pakistan Beat India by 341 Runs - Karachi, 2006 This match began with India in full control, as Irfan Pathan took a hat-trick in the first over to reduce Pakistan to 39/6. However, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal rescued Pakistan with a fighting innings to help them reach 245. Things changed swiftly when India struggled against Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq and were bowled out cheaply. Pakistan took full advantage in the second innings, reaching 599 with Faisal Iqbal hitting a fine century. India was set a massive 607-run target. Though Yuvraj Singh fought hard with a century, the team fell far short. This remained India's biggest away defeat in Test cricket for many years. 2. Australia Beat India by 342 Runs - Nagpur, 2004 The Australians dominated the 2004 Nagpur Test right from the beginning. Michael Clarke and Damien Martyn stitched a good partnership to give Australia a strong first-innings score. Jason Gillespie troubled the batters in both innings as India struggled against him. Australia then added more runs in their second innings, with several players hitting half-centuries. India were given a target of 543, but again their batting fell apart, and they were bowled out for just 200. India won the final Test in Mumbai, but that was little consolation since the series had been lost because of this huge defeat. 1. South Africa Beat India by 408 Runs - Guwahati, 2025 South Africa defeated India by 408 runs on Wednesday in Guwahati to take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-Test series. India, who had been set a 549-run target, managed only 140 runs in 63.5 overs. Simon Harmer starred with the ball in India's second innings, taking six wickets. The 408-run defeat at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium was also India's biggest defeat in Test cricket by runs.