Indian ODI World Cup Losses: India will be hosting the ODI World Cup this year. It will be for the first time that India will host the World Cup alone. Unlike in 1987, 1996, and 2011, the World Cup won’t have other subcontinental teams as joint hosts. There is bound to be immense pressure on the Indian team to win the World Cup this time around. It has been 12 years since the country lifted a World Cup across formats. Indian fans will be wary of expecting too much though as they have suffered multiple heartbreaking losses over the years.
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We look at a few such heartbreaking Indian ODI World Cup Losses:
#1 1996 World Cup semifinal vs Sri Lanka
The Indian team was slated to play its semifinal at home. The capacity crowd at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata was bustling with energy. India had a tricky opposition in Sri Lanka to contend with. Sri Lanka was unbeaten in the tournament and had previously beaten India in the league stage too. India winning the toss put Lanka into bat. On such a big occasion as the World Cup semifinal, it seemed a strange decision.
Javagal Srinath though removed both the Lankan openers in the very first over bringing Eden to the brink. But Aravinda de Silva counterattacked in brilliant fashion to take Lanka to 251. It was always going to be a tough chase. India’s chase was reliant on Sachin Tendulkar.
Once he was dismissed at the team score of 98-3, the team collapsed dramatically to be reduced to 120-8. Angry fans in the stands interrupted the game and the match was awarded to Sri Lanka. Vinod Kambli’s tears summarised the state of every Indian cricket fan then.
#2 1999 World Cup vs Zimbabwe
India was without its talisman Sachin Tendulkar in this game. They had already lost their opening game against South Africa. India despite this was expected to win against Zimbabwe. Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and decided to field first. India conceded 51 extras comprising 37 no-balls and wides. It led to India being asked to chase a total of 253 in just 46 overs. India agonizingly fell short by 3 runs. This loss eventually cost India crucial points in the Super 6 stages and they couldn’t progress to the semis.
#3 2003 World Cup final vs Australia
India had won 9 out of the 10 games leading into the World Cup finals in 2003. They had only lost to Australia in the group stage. It was a rematch wherein the fans expected India to settle the score. But Australia proved too good on the day of the finals. They posted a humungous score of 359-2 after being put into bat. India finished with just 234 in response. The team couldn’t win the cup after 20 years.
#4 2007 World Cup
It is arguably India’s most disastrous World Cup campaign ever. India had to win a minimum of two games in the first round to move to the next stage. They suffered a shock upset against Bangladesh in their opening game. India had to win against Sri Lanka to push for qualification into the next round. But they finished on the wrong side to be knocked out of the World Cup.
#5 2019 World Cup semifinal vs New Zealand
India was the top team in the league stage having won 7 out of their 9 games. They were overwhelming favourites against a spirited New Zealand side. Batting first, New Zealand posted 240. The game spanned for two days owing to rain. India had to chase under overcast conditions thereby nullifying any advantage they might have got had the game been played on the same day.
India lost their top order in the opening burst. They were 5-3 and later 24-4 at the end of 10 overs. India limped to 92-6 when Ravindra Jadeja staged a fine rearguard action with MS Dhoni to take India close. But it was all too little and all too less. India was knocked out once again in a World Cup semifinal.
