5 best ODI performances of team India against Australia in Australia

India tour of Australia is one of the most exciting tours for the Indian fans. Team India will go down under this January to face the mighty Aussies, who are the reigning World Champions.The weather conditions and the wickets are very different from the sub-continent and thus it becomes difficult for the visiting team to adapt to the changes. The fast and bouncy wickets add to the thrill of the game.The Indian team has an underwhelming record against Australia in Australia especially in ODIs. In 43 matches, against Australia in Australia the visitors have only won 9 matches. But they have also come up with some very strong performances in the past.Melbourne has been a happy hunting ground for the Indian team as among the nine victories five have come there.Under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni the Indian team is looking to better their records in Australia this winter. And with a promising fast bowling unit this will be an interesting battle to watch as the World Champions will face the former World Champions.Here we pick our list of the best performances of team India against Australia in Australia. Let’s look at the ones that made it to the top 5 performances’ list and get to know more about the same.

#5 Australia vs India at SCG (2 March 2008)

Sachin on his way to 117*

Commonwealth Bank Series, 1st Final between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). This was India’s first series after winning the inaugural ICC World T20 in 2007. India was in the finals knocking Sri Lanka out of the competition.

Batting first the Australians put a total of 239/8 from 50 overs. Mathew Hayden’s 82 and Mike Hussey’s 45 helped them put up a decent total on the board. For India Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh picked up two wickets each and prevented the hosts from putting up a massive total.

India’s innings didn't start off that well. India lost its opener Robin Uthappa for 17. Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh also got out cheaply. But Sachin Tendulkar was still on the crease and with him India’s hope were still battling. Sachin got excellent support from a young Rohit Sharma, who showed brilliant composure under immense pressure. Sharma got out on 66 but the damage was already done. Sachin along with Dhoni sealed the match for India and took a 1-0 lead in the 3 match finals.

Tendulkar remained unbeaten with a mesmerizing 117 and was chosen the Man of the Match.

India won the first final by six wickets.

Brief scores - AUS 239/8 ( Hayden 82, Hussey 45; Singh 2/38, Kumar 2/49 ) beaten by IND 242/4 ( Tendulkar 117*, Sharma 66; Hopes 2/42)

#4 Australia vs India at MCG (31 January 1986)

Vengsarkar’s brilliant 77* guided India to a famous win

The Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 14th match at Melbourne cricket Ground (MCG) in 1986 between Australia and India is one of the greatest run chases of team India in Australia.

Chasing Australia’s total of 235/7 from 50 overs, thanks to Geoff Marsh’s 74 and David Boon’s 76, the Indian openers couldn’t provide a solid start as Srikkanth got out on 27.

But at the other end there was Sunil Gavaskar who was in mood to punish the Australian bowlers. He along with the hard hitting Dilip Vengsarkar put the visitors on the drivers seat. Gavaskar got out on 72 but vengsarkar went all guns blazing and guided India to a famous win. He remained unbeaten on 77. Kapil Dev also contributed with an important unbeaten 23 of just 18 balls and he was instrumental with the ball that day picking up 4/30.

India won the match by six wickets.

For his outstanding knock of 77*, Srikkanth was awarded the Man of the Match Trophy.

Brief scores – AUS 235/7 ( Boon 76, Marsh 76; kalip Dev 4/30) beaten by IND 238/4 ( Srikkanth 77*, Gavaskar 72; Davis 2/40)

#3 Australia vs India at WACA, Perth (8 December 1991)

Srikkanth’s valliant 60 was crutial for India

The Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 9th match at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA), Perth in 1991 between Australia and India was one the most dominant bowling performances of the Indian team. This match was also the biggest win for the Indian team against Australia in their own backyard in terms of runs.

Batting first India put up a fighting total on the score board on the fastest track on the earth. Krish Srikkanth’s aggressive 60 was the main reason for the total. Srikkanth was equally supported by Pravin Amre with 33 and a young Sachin Tendulkar with a fluent 36.

When India came out on the field for the second innings to bowl, very few have thought what they’ll witness in the next few hours. Arguable this was the best bowling display of Indian team in Australia till date. And the leader of the bowling attack was non-other than the great Kapil Dev.

But the pick of the bowlers was surprisingly Ravi Shastri. Shastri picked up five wickets for just 15 runs in 6.5 overs. He was equally supported by Srinath who got 2/24.

The result was very clear India won the match but it was the margin of the win which makes that win so special, a staggering 107 runs.

In this match Srikkanth was chosen as the Man of the Match for his brilliant 60.

Brief scores – IND 208 all out ( Srikkanth 60, Tendulkar 36; S. Waugh 3/46) beat AUS 101 all out ( Border 32*, Marsh 15; Shastri 5/15, Srinath 2/24)

#2 Australia vs India at MCG (3 March 1985)

Ravi Shastri won the Man of the Match award for his 1/34 & 51

The Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 9th match at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1985 between Australia and India was the biggest win for the Indian team against Australia in their own backyard in terms of wickets.

Australia scored a total of 163 all out from 49.3 overs. Wayne Phillips’s dominating 60 and Rodney Hogg’s fighting 22 at the end of the innings helped the hosts to put a fighting total on the board. It was a superb bowling performance from the Indian team. Everyone done their jobs and the fielders also complimented the bowlers. The pick of the bowlers was Roger Binny 3/27. Kapil Dev and L. Shivaramakrishnan also picked up two wickets each and Ravi Shastri chipped in with one wicket.

The Indian openers got off to a flying start. Both Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri were hitting the ball beautifully all around the park. They dominated the Australian bowling attack and put up the first ever opening 100 run partnership for India against Australia in ODIs.

Shastri got out on 51 but he had done his job by then. Srikkanth continued to punish the Australian bowlers and finish the match unbeaten with 83 balls remaining.

Srikkanth’s aggressive 93* was the closest competitor for the Man of the Match award which went to ravi Shastri for his 1/34 and 51.

India won the match by eight wickets and with 83 balls remaining.

Brief scores - AUS 163 all out (Phillips 60, Hogg 22; Binny 3/27, Dev 2/25) beaten by IND 165/2 ( Srikkanth 93*, Shastri 51; Alderman 1/38)

#1 Australia vs India at MCG (6 December 1980)

Sandip Patil made a hugh contribution with both bat and ball

The first ever One Day International match between Australia and India makes the list. The Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 3rd match at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1980 is one of the most cherished ODIs of all-time from an Indian perspective.

Batting first the visitors made a fighting 208 for the loss of nine wickets, thanks to Sandip Patil’s brilliant 64 and Kirmani’s quick fire unbeaten 48.

In reply the Australian openers were solid and were easily making runs. Sandip Patil gave the first breakthrough to India as the bowled Kim Hughes for 35. The body language of the team transformed after that as the spirited Indian fielding caused a run out.

Roger Binny and Dilip Doshi’s spells gave the Indians the confidence to make the difficult task possible. Doshi ended the match with 3/32 and Binny 2/23 as Australia were bowled out for 142 runs.

With this match India cemented their spot as a major player in ODI cricket by winning the match by 66 runs. For his all round performance Sandip Patil was judged as the Man of the Match.

Brief scores- IND 208/9 (Patil 64, Kirmani 48*; Lillee 2/22, G. Chappell 2/32) beat AUS 142 all out ( Hughes 35, Walters 27; Doshi 3/32, Binny 2/23)