Top 10 brutal innings in ODI cricket

10. Kapil Dev (175* v/s Zimbabwe, 1983)

Sometimes, all you need is an explosive batsman to knock out the opposition. In Kapil’s case, the need was dire, and the innings uninhibited.

When your side is reeling at 17/5, and both openers are back in the pavilion without a run to their names, you are in more than just a tight spot. You have a choice – either back down meekly or make a last stand.

Kapil chose the latter, and proceeded to play a gem of a knock with his rustic, free-flowing approach. The ground at Tunbridge Wells began to resemble a graveyard for the bowlers despite Rawson and Curran taking six wickets amongst themselves.

Brick by brick, the Indian captain resurrected the innings, and after reaching his hundred, he just let go. Wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani, who joined the Haryana all-rounder at No.10, played the perfect second fiddle as Kapil sent the ball into orbit or in the fence during their century partnership; in fact, his display of hitting was such that Duncan Fletcher finally ran out of ideas and Zimbabwe just went through the motions of bowling and fielding.

India eventually posted a fighting total, and bundled out the Zimbabweans despite Curran’s defiant half century. But more importantly, Kapil’s ferocious onslaught infused tons of confidence into the side as they coasted to the World Cup title.