Relive India’s best wins in one-day internationals

In 1974, India embarked on its one-day international (ODI) tour after Leeds lost to England. It was a 55-over game and India lost by four wickets. We have learned our lessons over the years and India has grown into a force to be reckoned with in ODI cricket – winning the World Cup in 1983 and 2011. As the team prepares to take on the West Indies in its 1000th ODI, we’ve picked out the 10 best teams to win this format.

Also read: IND v WI: Walk down memory lane ahead of India’s 1000th ODI

Lord’s, 1983, World Cup, Final: India have one of the most amazing results in cricket, beating the West Indies. It’s a game changer. The most-watched final in a limited match has given Indian cricket an incredible boost. From nowhere, India has become a team to watch. The team has since achieved cult status in Indian cricket and the feat has been celebrated on the big screen in the form of a film as a tribute to the victory. To this day, West Indians still talk about the damage caused by the loss.

India 183. West Indies 140.

Melbourne, 1985, WCC, final: The victory is a confirmation of India’s growing position in ODI cricket. It also branded India’s ability to perform at its best on big occasions. The thumping victory over arch-rivals Pakistan was a fantastic gift for Sunil Gavaskar, who led India for the last time. The bowlers played a huge role in the match, with a 103-run opener between K. Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri to close the game. Gavaskar hit the opposing captain Imran Khan directly in a standout moment of the match.

Park 176/9. India 177/2.

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Sharjah, 1985, Rothman Cup, League: A thriller that helps bowlers on challenging pitches. It’s a low score, but full of intrigue and excitement. From Ravi Shastri’s out, to Imran Khan’s first goal of the match, to crafty Kapil Dev casting Tousef Aha Tauseef Ahmed to herald a stunning victory that boasted some never-ending tales of top skill. Imran’s six wickets were counterattacked by Gavaska’s excellent defence, which earned him Man of the Match honours. Charming figures known to Mohd Azharuddin are one of the highlights. Overall, it was a great performance from a confident Indian team.

India 125. Pakistan 87.

Bangalore, 1996, World Cup, quarter-finals: Unbearably nervous, the players avoided room service. They feel the pressure is unbearable because everyone has only one demand, “beat Pakistan tomorrow”. The opposition is an excellent combination. So is India. It all comes down to who has the guts to handle the situation. In the end, Navjot Singh Sidhu had a 93 and Ajay Jadeja had a 45 to set the stage for the home team. Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail threatened to play before local boy Venkatesh Prasad beat in Indian style silence.

India 187/8. Pakistan 248/9.

NS Sidhu defeated Ata-ur-Rehman in the quarter-final between India and Pakistan during the 1996 World Cup in Bangalore on March 9, 1996. – Hinduism

Karachi, 1997, second game, bilateral series: It was a match in the most hostile atmosphere imaginable. In Pakistan’s innings, spectators threw rocks and caused the game to be interrupted three times. Indians fear injury and fear recovery. Still, India is in good spirits. The target was stiff, but Sourav Ganguly shot a classic 89 to stagger his opponent. His knock was backed up by Vinod Kambli, Robin Singh and Saba Karim, while a much-needed six from Saqlain Mushtaq’s Rajesh Chauhan were the icing on the cake during the Test period.

Pakistan. 265/4. India 266/6.

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Dhaka, 1998, Jubilee Independence Cup, final: It was getting dark when India reached the goal. In a high-scoring match, spectators cheered for Pakistan, a difficult task for India, to be put in place by the menacing Syed Anwar (140) and Ijaz Ahmed (117) under the sword. India set a world record in the ODI thanks to a brilliant bat from Sourav Ganguly (124) and a brilliant 82 from Robin Singh. Small but invaluable contributions from the lower ranks came in handy and a game-defining cameo from Hrishikesh Kanitkar helped India win the title fight.

Pakistan 314/5. India 316/7.

Lord’s, 2002, NatWest Series, Final: India has found a new hero. The young brigade team admirably combined with their predecessors to stage a stunning coup d’état at Cricket House. It was a well-rounded performance that showcased the confidence Sourav Ganguly instilled in his team. Facing 326 goals and 146 fifths, India rose from the edge with the help of exciting displays from Mohammad Kaif (87 not out) and Yuvraj Singh (69). Their 120-person booth brought India to shore. The Briton was saddened with just three balls left when Zaheer Khan hit the winning game.

England 325/5. India 326/8.

England captain Nasser Hussain watches the NatWest series final at Lord’s as Zaheer Khan celebrates India’s victory on July 13, 2002. – Getty Images

Centurion, 2003, World Cup, quarter-final: This is the beauty of the field. On the eve of the match, Shoaib Akhtar boasted of stealing Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag for cheap. This is just the motivation of the Indian camp. In this high-profile race, Pakistan rode Saeed Anwar’s brilliant century to a formidable goal, but Tendulkar delivered a superb touch Launched a gleaming counterattack, a punch that locked the opponent’s fate. Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh managed the job with a 99-run unbeaten run.

Pakistan 273/7. India 276/4.

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Mumbai, 2011, World Cup, final: A dream come true for millions of Indians. For a new generation of cricketers eager to give the gift of the World Cup to Sachin Tendulkar. The maestro is playing in his last World Cup, raising expectations. Victory over Pakistan in the semi-final is India’s motivation. India held off a feisty Sri Lankan team in the final thanks to good shots from Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni. After a century of unprecedented greatness created by Mahela Jayawardena, Gambhir gave direction and Dhoni finished in style. The country celebrated a man’s title, and Tendulkar was the happiest.

Sri Lanka 274/6. India 277/4.

Teammate Yuvraj Singh reacts as India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits a 6 during the 2011 World Cup final at Wanheed Stadium in Mumbai on April 2, 2011. – AFP

Hobart, 2012, Commonwealth Bank Series, League: India must win the game. and win it with a powerful formula. Sri Lanka, with centuries of T. Dilshan and K. Sangakkara, set a goal of 321, but India had to overhaul it in the round of 40 to keep their hopes of reaching the final. Virat Kohli took the cape and single-handedly destroyed Sri Lanka with a stunning batting performance as India reached their destination with 36.4 runs. “When they hit the ball like that, there’s nothing you can do,” lamented Sangakkara. However, Kohli’s stunning strike could not help India advance as Sri Lanka won their match against Australia.

Sri Lanka 320/4. India 321/3.