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The upcoming final between India and Australia in the Cricket World Cup 2023 on November 19 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will mark a rematch of the 2003 World Cup final. In that previous India vs Australia encounter in ODI World Cup final, Australia dashed the hopes of millions by defeating Sourav Ganguly-led Team India by 125 runs, securing their third World Cup trophy. Although Rohit Sharma and his team are expected to be favorites to claim the title in front of their home crowd, it would be unwise to underestimate the 5-time World Champions.
Across the extensive history of the World Cup, Australia has consistently emerged as the dominant team. Australia has secured victory over India in 8 out of 13 encounters in the tournament. This article will delve into three specific instances of India vs Australia in ODI World Cups where, Australia left Indian fans disheartened.
India vs Australia in ODI World Cups: Heart-wrenching defeats
World Cup 1987 (Group Stage): AUS beat IND by 1 run
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Indian captain Kapil Dev chose to send the Australian team in. The formidable opening duo of David Boon and Geoff Marsh got Australia off to a strong start. The Indian bowlers faced some brutal hitting from the Australian batsmen. However, Ravi Shastri managed to dismiss Boon for LBW just one run shy of his half-century. Crucial performances from Allan Border and Steve Waugh helped Australia to put up a total of 270 runs on the board, losing six wickets in their allotted 50 overs.
In response, Krishnamachari Srikkanth (70) and Navjot Sidhu (73) scored a half-century after the dismissal of Sunil Gavaskar. Despite a promising start, India ultimately fell agonizingly short of the required target, with their lower order suffering a significant collapse.
World Cup 1992 (Group Stage): AUS beat IND by 1 run
Dean Jones and David Boon formed a vital alliance that contributed to Australia’s total of 237 runs. In reply, India fiercely contested, propelled by Mohammad Azharuddin’s 93. With 13 runs required in the final over, Kiran More hit two consecutive fours, bringing the target down to 5 off 4. Unfortunately, India lost More, managing only three runs in the subsequent three balls, ultimately falling short by a single run.
World Cup 2003 (Final): Australia defeated India by 125 runs
The match lingered in the minds of Team India and its fans for an extended period. Following an impressive streak of eight consecutive victories in the tournament, the Men in Blue found themselves on the brink of World Cup triumph. Regrettably, Australia shattered India’s aspirations with a commanding display. Setting an imposing target of 359, the Men in Yellow outperformed the Indian team. Despite their efforts, Team India couldn’t pose a substantial challenge to the formidable Australian bowlers and ultimately suffered a defeat by a margin of 125 runs.
World Cup 2015 (Semi-final): Australia won by 95 runs
India, the reigning champions, appeared formidable leading up to the semi-final clash against the host nation, Australia. Unfortunately, the team led by MS Dhoni had a disappointing performance with both the bat and ball. Attempting to chase down a challenging 329, the Indian team was dismissed for 233, marking a sorrowful exit from the tournament.
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