5 worst defeats for India in ODIs

#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.