5 instances when Team India ended a streak

India recently halted South Africa’s 9-year undefeated away streak The Indian cricket team seems to have mastered the art of bringing an end to streaks since the turn of the century. The most recent instance of this came when India registered a thumping win over South Africa at Nagpur in the 3rd Test of the Gandhi-Mandela series as they ended the South African team’s 9-year long streak of not losing a Test series away from home.Over the past 15 years or so, the Indians have broken a number of streaks, both in Tests and ODIs. While Australia have been on the receiving end on most occasions, there have been other victims as well.Here are 5 instances of Team India breaking a streak across formats:

#5 Bangladesh\'s victory streak in home ODIs, 2014-2015

India lost the series but ended Bangladesh’s home winning streak

Team - Bangladesh

Streak - 10 ODI wins in a row at home

Although the ODI series in Bangladesh earlier this year ended in disappointment for India, they made sure that they brought an end to a winning streak for the home side. Beginning from a win in an ODI against Zimbabwe on 21 November 2014, the Bangladeshis had won 10 matches on a trot while playing at home.

This included victory in the first 2 of the 3 one-dayers against India, thereby sealing the series by the time the last match was played. In the 3rd ODI, however, India finally managed to get things right for themselves and spoiled the Bangladesh party by winning the match and stopping their victory charge at home.

#4 South Africa\'s unbeaten streak in ODIs, 2005

India brought an end to South Africa’s greatest unbeaten streak in ODIs

Team - South Africa

Streak - 20 consecutive ODIs without defeat

South Africa hold the record for the 2nd best unbeaten streak in ODI cricket. Starting from February 2005, South Africa remained unbeaten for 20 successive One Day Internationals that they played in the same year. However, in the bilateral series against India in November 2005, they could not extend their run as India beat them in the 2nd ODI played at Bangalore.

After having won the 1st match of the series, South Africa had added to their unbeaten spell of 19 ODIs. But a 6-wicket loss in the next game ensured that the Indian team had managed to conclude yet another streak.

#3 Australia\'s Test match winning streak, 2005-2008

India registered an unlikely win in Perth to break another Australian streak

Team - Australia

Streak - 16 back-to-back Test wins

This was one among two occasions when India brought an end to a 16-Test winning streak by the mighty Australians, the first being against the side led by Steve Waugh. Ricky Ponting’s men equalled the record for most consecutive Test wins, set by their fellow Australians in 2001, by registering a victory in the infamous 2008 Sydney Test against India.

Team India managed to inflict the perfect revenge by winning the subsequent Test in Perth and bringing a full stop to an Aussie winning streak for second time. This feat enhanced India’s reputation for being among the best streak breakers in modern-day cricket.

#2 Australia\'s unbeaten streak in World Cup knock-out matches, 1999-2011

Yuvraj Singh was the chief architect in ending Australia’s legendary streak in World Cups

Team - Australia

Streak - 6 successive World Cup knock-out games without defeat

Australia has easily been the best team ever in World Cups as is visible from their records at the marquee event for cricket. One of their great records is their unbeaten runs in World Cup knock-out matches between 1999 and 2011. This was another streak by the team from Down Under which was ended by Team India.

It was the quarter-final of the 2011 ICC World Cup and the Aussies had not lost a single knock-out game since 1999 until then, having won the semi-final and final in 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cup. But Yuvraj Singh’s heroics ensured that the Indians not only knocked Australia out of the tournament in the Quarter-final stage, but also brought a halt to their unbeaten knock-out streak at the World Cups.

#1 Australia\'s Test match winning streak, 1999-2001

Australia’s winning streak under Steve Waugh comes to an end

Team - Australia

Streak - 16 consecutive Test victories

Team India’s most famous streak-breaking feat came during their monumental 2001 series win against Australia at home. The Aussies had registered a comprehensive victory in the 1st Test at Mumbai and extended their record of most consecutive Test wins to 16.

Then came the 2nd Test in Kolkata, almost everyone expected Australia to register their 17th victory on the trot and seal the series at the same time.

But what followed as one of the most staggering turnarounds in the history of Test cricket as India went on to script a famous win after having to follow on in their 2nd innings. This also brought an end to Australia’s winning streak, which still remains the longest ever by any team in Tests.