New Delhi:
The ODI contests between India and Australia are fiercely fought and there are several memorable moments when these two teams collide. In 56 games in India, Australia hold a slight edge with 26 wins while the hosts have won 25. However, Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team are on a roll, having won bilateral series in Australia and in New Zealand heading into the final series before the ICC Cricket World Cup which will begin on May 30, 2019. In 35 years ever since both sides have been playing bilateral cricket in India, there have been plenty of tense moments etched on the memories of cricket fans from both countries. Here are some of the pivotal clashes between both sides.
Kapil Dev agreed to give Australia two additional runs in the World Cup game in Chennai. (Image credit: Twitter)
1.) Kapil Dev’s sportsmanship gives Australia tense World Cup win, Chennai 1987
The venue was famous in India vs Australia contests for in 1986, the two sides played out their famous Tied Test match. In the World Cup encounter, Australia were boosted by a magnificent 110 from Geoff Marsh. The talking point of the game though was when Dean Jones hit a shot off Maninder Singh that was signalled as a boundary but many in the team felt it was a six. Australia were not happy and in the lunch break, they had a talk with Kapil Dev who agreed to the score revision. Two more runs were added and Australia finished on 270/6. Sunil Gavaskar’s aggressive 37, followed by 70 from Kris Srikkanth and a brilliant 73 by Navjot Singh Sidhu put India on course. At 202/2 in 35 overs, it seemed the game was up for Australia. However, Craig McDermott took 4/56 and suddenly, Australia had the initiative. Seven runs were needed off the last over bowled by Steve Waugh and Maninder Singh could not get India over the line as they lost by one run. Those two additional runs proved to be the difference.
Sachin Tendulkar defended six runs off the last over against Australia in Mohali. (Image credit: Twitter)
2.) Sachin Tendulkar shines with the ball in the death overs, Mohali 1996
The Titan Cup clash between India and Australia in Mohali was a must-win game for both sides. Sachin Tendulkar set the game up brilliantly with a 60-ball 62 and a brilliant 94 from Mohammad Azharuddin and a solid 56 from Rahul Dravid helped India to 289/6. Mark Taylor’s brilliant 78 and Michael Slater’s blazing 52 off 38 balls put Australia on course but Anil Kumble’s 3/42 kept the hosts in the hunt. With six runs needed off the last over but with only one wicket left, Azharuddin handed the ball to Tendulkar. With the first ball, Brad Hogg was run-out and India reached the final with a narrow win. Like he had done during the Hero Cup encounter in Kolkata in 1993 by defending six runs against South Africa in the final over, Tendulkar played a part with the ball.
Sachin Tendulkar's 175 went in vain as India lost the Hyderabad ODI by three runs in 2009. (Image credit: Twitter)
3.) The ultimate heartbreak, Hyderabad 2009
For many Indian fans, the match in Hyderabad represented Tendulkar’s zenith as a batsman but also provided plenty of heartbreak. Shane Watson’s 93, Shaun Marsh’s 112 and Cameron White’s 57 helped Australia reach 350/4. India got off to a blazing start thanks to Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Tendulkar shared a brilliant 137-run stand with Suresh Raina, with the right-hander blasting a brilliant century. On 175 and India needing 19 off 18 balls, Tendulkar top-edged a lap sweep off Clint McKay and India choked. Just like they did it in the Chennai Test against Pakistan in 1999, India’s lower order failed to get the team over the line and they lost by three runs. It was the most sublime knock but produced the ultimate heartbreak.
Virat Kohli hit the fastest century by an Indian player when he smashed a 52-ball ton in Jaipur. (Image credit: Twitter)
4.) Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma turn Australia red in Pink City, Jaipur 2013
In the 2003 World Cup final in Johannesburg, Australia had hit 359 and India lost by 125 runs. In Jaipur, Australia once again made 359 but India chased it down in spectacular fashion with 39 balls to spare. Fifties from Aaron Finch (50), Phillip Hughes (83), Shane Watson (59), George Bailey (92*) and Glenn Maxwell (53) boosted Australia. What followed afterwards was a massacre that totally left Australia dumbstruck. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma scored at more than seven runs an over. Australia found some relief when Dhawan fell for 95 but Virat Kohli tore into the Australian bowling and slammed a century off 52 balls, the fastest by an Indian in ODIs. Rohit also hit 141 and India chased down 359 to win by nine wickets. If only India had the services of Kohli and Rohit in the 2003 World Cup.
Rohit Sharma became the third double centurion in ODIs during the Bangalore match in 2013. (Image credit: ICC Twitter)
5.) Rohit Sharma – Double centurion against Australia, Bangalore 2013
Tendulkar and Sehwag had broken the barriers of ODI cricket by slamming double tons against South Africa and West Indies in 2010 and 2011. In 2013, Rohit Sharma became the third. With the seven-match series level 2-2 heading into the final game in Bangalore, Rohit showcased his class. After getting Kohlirun-out for 0, Rohit carted the Australian bowling to all parts of the M Chinnaswamy stadium to become the third double centurion in ODIs. Rohit’s 209 included 12 fours and a world record 16 sixes as India reached 383/6. Glenn Maxwell’s 23-ball 60 and Watson’s 28-ball 49 put Australia on course but James Faulkner’s blazing century gave India a real scare. However, Mohammed Shami’s three wickets gave India a tense 57-run win to clinch a bilateral series win against Australia.
