Biggest ODI Defeats for India

Quite often, we have seen the Indian batting order succumbing to the pressure of big targets.  In recent times, this reputation has been dealt away with at most occasions. However, India’s disastrous defeat against South Africa in the series decider ODI at Wankhede provoked yet another chance of endless criticism for the Men In Blue. Here is a list of the biggest ODI defeats for India in terms of runs :

5) India vs New Zealand – 10 August, 2010 at Dambulla :

In the first match of the triangular series, The Kiwis won the toss and elected to bat. The duo of Praveen Kumar and Ashish Nehra provided an early start by reducing the New Zealand to 28 for 3. But after that, a 190-run stand between Scott Styris (89 runs) & Ross Taylor (95 runs) laid the foundation for a strong total of 288 runs. India replied well initially with the score being 39/0. But then started a dramatic collapse which saw India falling to 50/4 and later 60/7. India ended with a paltry 88 runs and New Zealand won by a huge margin of 200 runs. Ross Taylor was adjudged Man of the Match.

4) India vs England – 7 June, 1975 at Lord’s:

In the first ever World Cup match, India met England in a 60-over match. Fletcher (68 runs) & Amiss (137 runs) provided a firm base for a mammoth total of 334/4. The match is quite known for the controversy created by Sunil Gavaskar who came to open the Indian innings. He scored 36* runs off 174 balls and later gave the excuse that the pitch was a slow one. The Indians could manage only 132 runs in their 60 overs and England won by 202 runs. DL Amiss was the Man of the Match.

3) India vs Australia – 8 February, 2004 at Sydney :

It was the 2nd Final of the VB Series and the Kangaroos won the toss and elected to bat first. Hayden (126 runs) and Martyn (67 runs) stitched a 157-run stand for the third wicket that paved the way for a gigantic target of 360 runs for the Indian team. The Indians once again succumbed to pressure and gave the Australians a gift by getting all out at 151 runs. Australia won by 208 runs and Hayden became the Man of the Match.

2) India vs South Africa – 25 October, 2015 at Mumbai :

On a hot and humid day at the Wankhede, the Proteas skipper won the toss and chose to bat. The opener Amla was dismissed soon but then the Proteas displayed a thunderous show of batting with the next three players scoring tons – de Cock (109 runs), du Plessis (133 runs) and AB de Villiers (119 runs). These knocks took South Africa to their best ODI score of 438 runs for 4 wickets. The Indians started taking the pressure from the very beginning. Runs kept coming in but the wickets also kept falling. Ajinkya Rahane (87 runs) was the only batsman who showed some grit along with Shikhar Dhawan (60 runs). No other batsman could do any good and India were all out for 224 runs in 36 overs, leading to the second biggest ODI defeat for India by 214 runs.

1) India vs Sri Lanka – 29 October, 2000 at Sharjah :

In the final of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka won the and decided to bat first. Their opener, Sanath Jayasuriya was in great form in the tournament and showed a classy innings in the final too. He scored his career best of 189 runs off 161 balls. He thrashed the Indian bowlers to all the corners of the ground, setting a target of 300 for the Indian team. But it was the pressure of a big chase in a big game that took over the Men In Blue who were smashed like a pack of cards by the Sri Lankan bowlers for a meager 54 runs, facing their biggest ODI defeat by 245 runs. Jayasuriya rightfully claimed the Man of the Match and Man of the Tournament Trophies.