5 worst defeats for India in ODIs

Painful defeats are part and parcel of the game for most sides and considering the fact that India is one of the older international sides in the game, they have had their fair share of those in ODI cricket. In the early years of ODI cricket, India struggled to adapt to the game in the early years but the 1983 World Cup win changed all that and gradually they became a force.

That being said, there have been plenty of painful reverses throughout the course of their existence as an ODI side and some of them will forever be remembered as dark days in the history of Indian cricket. Over the last decade and a half, India have been one of the world’s top limited-overs teams and despite their dominance in the format, there are some games that the team would like to forget.

Here is a look at some of the most forgettable games from India’s ODI cricket history.

#5 202 run defeat against England at Lord’s, 1975

No one quite expected India to win the World Cup but the sort of show they put up in the 1st game of the inaugural event at Lord’s against England will forever be remembered for being one of the most shambolic performances from the team in ODI cricket.

However, what unfolded that day remains a display that is often mocked to this day. England batted first and made a barely believable 334/7 in 60 overs, thanks to a brutal 137 (147 balls, 18 fours) from Dennis Amiss. Keith Fletcher made 68 as well and the bowling attack had no answers to England’s assault.

In their chase, India seemed to have surrendered the game from the outset and former great Sunil Gavaskar’s innings is still regarded as one of the worst innings ever played in ODI cricket. He batted from start to finish, faced 174 balls and scored 36 runs by the time India’s innings ended at 136 for 3 in 60 overs.

It was a farcical performance and no doubt one of the most embarrassing.

#4 245 run loss to Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 2000

Chaminda Vaas

Back in 2000, following the match-fixing sage, a young Indian team improved massively under Sourav Ganguly and were unlucky to end up as the losing finalists in the ICC Knockout held in Kenya. They were the favorites when they came up against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a tri-series that followed the ICC Knockout. However, Sri Lanka dominated India in the two league games leading up to the final and had turned the tables on the young team. In the final though, India delivered a performance that remains one of the team’s most forgettable performances in ODI history.

After a steady start, Sri Lanka notched up 299 in 50 overs, as their captain Sanath Jayasuriya carted the bowlers to all corners of the ground for a brutal 189 (161 balls, 21 fours, 4 sixes). It was a big chase but with an opening combination of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, India were not out of the game. The game unfolded quickly enough as Chaminda Vaas removed both the openers by the 5th over, with the scoreboard reading 10 for 2 and from then on it was a procession. Vaas ended up with 5 wickets and India were dismissed for a shocking 54 in 26.3 overs. The young team had been brutally brought back down to earth.

#3 180 run loss to Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy Final at Oval, 2017

A disappointed Indian team following the shocking loss

In the league game against the arch-rivals, India had handed Pakistan a rout but in the final of the tournament, they suffered a reverse that would rankle for a long time. India went into the final as the firm favourites and after choosing to bowl first, they completely fluffed their lines. Jasprit Bumrah’s no ball when he had dismissed opener Fakhar Zaman proved costly as the left-hander then went on to score a match-defining 114 (106 balls, 12 fours, 3 sixes). Everyone was among the runs as Pakistan ran amok and posted an imposing 338 for 4.

Still, India had a batting line-up that could threaten to overhaul that score but the innings was pretty much over early on as Mohammad Amir bowled an inspired spell and picked up the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India slumped to 158 all out and slumped to a 180 run loss. It would forever be remembered as one of the most embarrassing defeats suffered by the country in ODI cricket.

#2 Loss by default to Sri Lanka in World Cup semi-final at Kolkata, 1996

Tendulkar is stumped

This one remains an embarrassing event for Indian cricket for two reasons. Firstly, India’s incredible meltdown on a wearing pitch chasing 252 remains a dark chapter to this day and secondly, the crowd trouble at Eden Gardens made it worse. India probably decided to bowl first due to the fact that Sri Lanka had chased down a total in excess of 270 (huge score in those days) against them in the group stage and they had a dream start. Openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana were gone with 1 run on the board. However, Aravinda de Silva launched a ferocious counterattack and Sri Lanka eventually made 251.

India lost opener, Navjot Sidhu, early but Sachin Tendulkar looked in brilliant form and along with Sanjay Manjrekar took the score to 98 for 1. India were well placed but then Tendulkar was stumped and the collapse began. From 98 for 1, India slumped to 120 for 8 as the pitch broke up and the spinners became unplayable. Crowd trouble meant that the match was abandoned and India ended up a World Cup semi-final at home.

#1 5 wicket loss to Bangladesh in World Cup league game at Port of Spain, 2007

Bangladesh celebrate

It is hard to argue against this particular defeat in the league stage of the 2007 World Cup being the most embarrassing defeat in India’s ODI history. India had been in fine form going into the 2007 World Cup and there was a genuine belief that they might go all the way, but in their first game against minnows Bangladesh, the team faltered badly. Having chosen to bat first, India’s star-studded batting line-up faltered badly. Mashrafe Mortaza picked up 4 wickets, while Abdur Razzaq and Mohammad Rafique picked up 3 wickets each as India’s innings folded for 191 with 3 balls to spare.

In their chase, Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal launched an attack on the Indian bowlers from the outset and all hopes of a victory were dashed. In the 2007 World Cup, each group had 4 teams and hence this loss damaged the team’s chances severely. Although truth be told, they could still have qualified had they won their last game against Sri Lanka but they faltered again to be knocked out of the tournament. The loss against Bangladesh remains an embarrassing one to this day.