India vs Australia
13th June 1983: Trevor Chappell’s Masterclass and Australia’s Overwhelming Victory
The Clash of Underdogs
The first-ever meeting between India and Australia in the World Cup took place during the third edition of the tournament. Both teams, regarded as underdogs at the time, were struggling. India had a poor track record in previous tournaments, while Australia was recovering from the ‘post-Packer’ phase, which had deprived them of several star players. This encounter in the era of 60-over matches had an unexpected outcome.
Australia’s Dominant Performance
Batting first, Australia showcased their brilliance, with Trevor Chappell leading the way with a remarkable 110 runs. Captain Kim Hughes (52) and Graeme Yallop (66) provided crucial support as Australia set a formidable total of 320 for 9, despite Kapil Dev’s career-best figures of 5 for 43. In reply, India’s chase never gained momentum, and only Kapil Dev’s swashbuckling 27-ball 40 prevented them from a single-digit score. India ended up with just 158 runs, suffering a 162-run defeat.
A Harsh Reality Check
India’s hopes, buoyed by victories against West Indies and Zimbabwe in their first two matches, were shattered in this encounter.
20th June 1983: Roger Binny Shines as India Secures Semifinal Spot
Sweet Revenge for India
Following a humiliating defeat to Australia a week earlier, India sought redemption in a match at Chelmsford. Opting to bat first, India displayed collective batting prowess, with nine batsmen reaching double figures. They posted a respectable 247 runs on the board, despite being bowled out with 26 balls to spare. Roger Binny was the standout performer, taking four wickets, supported by Madan Lal. India not only avenged their earlier loss but also secured their maiden World Cup semifinal berth.
Australia’s Disastrous Collapse
Chasing 248, Australia crumbled from 46 for 1 to 78 for 7, and their hopes of reaching the semifinals faded. India’s stellar performance with the ball, led by Roger Binny, played a crucial role in their victory.
9th October 1987: The Chepauk Classic
Australia’s Strong Start
In a World Cup match held at Chepauk, one year after the famous tied Test at the same venue, Australia faced India. The defending champions, playing on home turf for the first time in a World Cup match, were favorites. However, the determined Australians posed a tough challenge.
Australia’s Competitive Total
Australia, asked to bat first, opened strongly with a partnership of 110 runs between David Boon and Geoff Marsh. Marsh went on to score a century, while Dean Jones contributed a quick 39. Despite India captain Kapil Dev’s decision to grant a two-run boost due to an erroneous declaration, India was in control at 202 for 2 after 35 overs.
India’s Collapse
The match took a dramatic turn as Craig McDermott took four crucial wickets in his comeback spell, dismissing NS Sidhu, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohammed Azharuddin, and Ravi Shastri. Steve Waugh’s calm disposition helped secure victory as he dismissed Maninder Singh in the final over. India fell just 2 runs short of the target, experiencing a heartbreaking defeat.
1st March 1992: India’s Thrilling Chase Falls Short
The Rain Rule Drama
In the 1992 World Cup match, India faced a unique challenge due to the rain rule, which reduced their target. India’s chase of 238 from 50 overs became 236 off 47 overs. Mohammed Azharuddin led a spirited chase with a fine 93, and Sanjay Manjrekar contributed with a rapid 42-ball 47. However, run-outs of Azharuddin and Manjrekar, along with Kiran More’s last-over dismissal, led to India’s one-run loss. Dean Jones’ sparkling 90 had earlier propelled Australia to 237, despite efforts from Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar.
27th February 1996: Sachin Tendulkar’s Heroics Not Enough
Wankhede Witnessed an Epic
At the Wankhede Stadium, India faced Australia in a thrilling encounter. Mark Waugh’s exceptional 126 powered Australia to 258 runs. India made a strong comeback, taking the last six wickets for just 26 runs. Sachin Tendulkar led India’s response with a dominant 90, but a wicket from Mark Waugh ended his innings. India’s pursuit ultimately fell short at 242, with Damien Fleming taking 5 for 36.
June 4th 1999: McGrath and Australia Crush India
India’s Batting Collapse
India’s chase of 283 against Australia turned disastrous, with the top-order batsmen, including Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, and Mohammed Azharuddin, falling quickly. Despite a century from Ajay Jadeja and contributions from Robin Singh, India suffered a massive 77-run defeat at the Kennington Oval. Australia, batting first, was propelled by Mark Waugh’s 83.
February 15th 2003: Australia Dominates Abject India
A One-Sided Affair
In a highly one-sided match, India was bowled out for just 125 runs, despite Sachin Tendulkar’s 36. Australia chased down the target with nine wickets and 166 balls to spare. Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie took three wickets each to dismantle India’s middle-order, with Adam Gilchrist leading the charge.
March 23rd 2003: Ponting’s Ruthless Century
Ponting’s Domination
In the 2003 World Cup final, India faced Australia and elected to field. Ricky Ponting’s phenomenal 140* and Damien Martyn’s 88* powered Australia to an imposing 359 for two. India’s chase began poorly, with Glenn McGrath dismissing Sachin Tendulkar in the first over. Virender Sehwag’s 82 offered a glimmer of hope, but India eventually fell short by 125 runs. The loss marked Australia’s consecutive World Cup titles.
24th March 2011: India Ends Australia’s Title Reign
Quarterfinal Clash
In a quarterfinal clash at Ahmedabad, India faced a formidable Australia team seeking its fourth consecutive World Cup title. Ricky Ponting scored a century for Australia, but India chased down the target of 261 with Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina guiding them to victory. The loss ended Australia’s World Cup dominance.
26th March 2015: Australia’s Dominant Victory
Smith’s Leadership
Australia, led by Steven Smith, overwhelmed India with a 95-run victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Smith and Aaron Finch added 182 runs for the second wicket, propelling Australia to 328 for 7. India’s chase faltered as they were bowled out for 233.
9th June, 2019: India’s Convincing Win
Emphatic Batting Display
In a match at the Kennington Oval, India produced a commanding batting performance, scoring 352 for five, the highest-ever World Cup total against Australia. Shikhar Dhawan’s century, along with contributions from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and others, set the stage for a convincing win. Australia’s chase fell short by 36 runs, with Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking three wickets each.
