India’s historic ODI wins: India’s ODI World Cup win in 1983 revolutionized world cricket. The country that had won just a single game in the first two World Cups went on to create history in 1983. It led to India co-hosting the 1987 ODI World Cup. India soon went on to become a financial powerhouse.
The birth of IPL underlined India’s clout in the cricketing world. It was largely down to India’s performance in ODIs that helped them draw large crowds and fill up coffers for cricketing nations across the world.
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We look at India’s historic ODI wins outside the World Cups:
#5 Champions Trophy final, 2013
India was the form team of the tournament in Champions Trophy, 2013. They were unbeaten right through to the finals. India was up against home team England in the final. The final was reduced to 20 overs per side. India was put into bat on a sticky Edgbaston wicket. They managed to score 129 runs. But they bowled and fielded brilliantly to win the Champions Trophy. It signalled India’s dominance as an ODI nation. They held both the World Cup (2011) and the Champions Trophy together. It remains India’s last ICC tournament win!
#4 The epic run-fest in Karachi, 2004
It was a historic series in every sense of the word. India was touring Pakistan after 15 long years. The series started with an absolute thriller in Karachi. India had a blistering start with Virender Sehwag providing fireworks. Rahul Dravid then anchored the innings to take India to a formidable total of 349-7. Pakistan needed something special to even come close to the total. Captain Inzamam ul Haq stepped up to the occasion. He almost threatened to take the game from India. India prevailed, in the end, to go 1-0 in the series. The run feast remains one of India’s famous wins.
#3 Independence Cup final, 1998
The Independence Cup final saw the arch-rivals compete for the title. Pakistan posted a colossal score batting first. India was set a target of 316 in 48 overs. The target at the halfway mark looked beyond India’s reach. But Indian batters had some other plans. Sachin Tendulkar smashed a quick-fire 40 setting up the stage.
Sourav Ganguly and Robin Singh then stitched a terrific partnership to take India closer to the total. It went down till the last over where Hrishikesh Kanitkar hit Saqlain Mushtaq for a boundary. The game in the final stages was almost played in the dark and saw India notch one of its most memorable wins.
#2 The desert storm, 1998
India, Australia, and New Zealand played the triangular Coca-Cola cup in 1998. For India to qualify for the final they had to achieve a certain target in their last league game against Australia. The odds were heavily stacked against India as the game was reduced to 46 overs but the target was stiff. At this juncture, Sachin Tendulkar played one of the greatest ODI knocks of all time. He blasted 143 to take India to the finals. Sachin did an encore in the finals scoring 134 to help India win the title. These two iconic knocks are termed as ‘desert storm’ as Sachin braved the desert’s havoc to power India home.
#1 Natwest series final, 2002
India had earned the notorious reputation of losing the finals. The finals of every tournament started becoming baggage for the side. India was the team of the tournament featuring home side England and Sri Lanka. They won four, lost one, and one game was abandoned due to rain.
India played England in the finals. England amassed 325-5 batting first at Lords. It felt as if another final slipped away from India’s grasp. India was reeling at the halfway mark in their run chase having been reduced to 146-5. Two youngsters then decided to take matters into their own hands. Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif helped India register a famous win. It remains India’s greatest win outside the World Cups.
