In their illustrious ODI history, India have experienced many situations where they have found themselves in trouble but have managed to get out of jail by virtue of some fine performances with the bat.
We look at 5 such instances here:
5.India vs Australia Bangalore (2001)
After winning a thrilling Test series 2-1, India entered the ODI series against Australia, brimming with confidence. However, the Aussies being the World champions at the time, put the hosts under pressure, post a blistering start provided by Sachin Tendulkar, reducing them to 122 for 4 in the 22nd over.
However, that is when Rahul Dravid was joined by 22-year-old batsman Virender Sehwag and the duo began the to rebuild the innings slowly and steadily. The twp put on 100 runs for the fifth wicket with the latter registering his maiden half-century, before getting out for 58.
Dravid, though, continued on his way and found another Delhiite in the form of Vijay Dahiya, who stroked the ball beautifully as India eventually got to 315 with the Bangalorean getting 80 invaluable runs in front of his home crowd.
In reply, Sehwag was once again the hero taking figures of 3 for 59 as India won the game by 60 runs.
4.India vs England Pune 2017
Ushering in a new era under the leadership of Virat Kohli, India were looking to get off to a winning start in the ODI leg of their series against England at home. Winning the toss, he opted to bowl and at the midway stage might have regretted the call as England made full use of the short boundaries and the flat pitch at the Gahunje Stadium to amass a massive 350 for 7 on the board.
In reply, India got off to a terrible start, losing both openers cheaply, and then saw Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni also depart for low scores and at 63 for 4, with Kohli and an inexperienced lower-order left, the game was England’s to lose.
However, that is when one of the most remarkable comebacks in ODI history began. Employing a fearless approach, Kohli, along with hometown boy Kedar Jadhav smashed the England bowling to all corners, keeping the required rate at check at all points and putting the fear back into the English camp.
The duo added 200 runs for the fifth wicket before Kohli was gone for 122. Jadhav got to his ton before returning to the pavilion, but Hardik Pandya helped by Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin ensured the effort put in by their captain and Jadhav did not go to waste, helping the side get over the line with 3 wickets in hand.
3.India vs Zimbabwe Colombo(2002)
Playing their first game against lowly yet a competitive Zimbabwe side, India were hoping to get off to a good start. However, opting to bat first after winning the toss They found themselves in the doldrums as Douglas Hondo and Sean Ervine ran through the top order, reducing the Men in Blue to 87 for 5.
But that's when Rahul Dravid, joined by Mohammad Kaif began the rescue act, putting on 117 for the sixth wicket before the former was dismissed for 71.Kaif, however, continued to march, registering his maiden ODI hundred to help India get to 288 for 6.
In reply, Andy flower did what he often did against Indian-Score Big, making a superb 145 but lack of support at the other end meant that the Zimbabweans fell short by 14 runs in the end.
2.India vs England Cuttack (2017)
Coming into the game with a 1-0 lead, India were looking to seal the ODI series. Eoin Morgan won the toss and opted to field and about an hour later must have patted himself on the back for having made that call as India found themselves in trouble at 25 for 3 inside the opening Powerplay.
That is when we were about to be taken back in time, courtesy two veterans- Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni, who began the rescue act, rebuilding the innings steadily to bring India back into the game. Once set, the duo opened up further and displayed a full range of shots that thrilled one-and-all present at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Yuvraj and Dhoni put on 256 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was dismissed for a career-best 150. The latter also got to his ton and marched on, eventually getting out for 134 as India finished at a mammoth 381 for 6 in their 50 overs.
In reply, England fought hard, aided by fifties from Jason Roy and Joe Rott and a hundred from skipper Eoin Morgan, but some fine bowling at the death by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and co. meant India just about sneaked ahead and completed a 15-run win.
1.India vs Zimbabwe Tunbridge Wells(1983)
No article on coming back from a dreadful start can be complete without including this article. Taking on Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in the 1983 World Cup, India were looking to gather some momentum into their campaign with a win.
However, after electing to bat, they found themselves in absolute tatters at 17 for 5, which worsened to 78 for 7 soon enough.
But Kapil Dev had other ideas in mind and in one of most remarkable counter-attacking innings of all time, made an unbeaten 175 in a team total of 266 for 8 in 60 overs rescuing the side from a calamitous position.
The bowlers then responded to their captain’s efforts superbly, taking regular wickets to one the opposition back to eventually complete a 30 run win.
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