The Indian cricket team is one of the best teams in ODI cricket right now and has been in this zone consistently for the last decade or so. We have seen them achieving some monumental feats from time to time. They have always had a strong batting lineup which keeps posting big totals most of the times. But there are times when things don't quite go right even for the best and hence, we will take a look at three of India's lowest totals in ODI cricket history here.
Read | Three highest ODI totals by India
54 vs Sri Lanka (Sharjah | Oct 2000)
This is India's lowest total in ODIs and it came against Sri Lanka during the Coca Cola Champions Trophy back in the year 2000 at Sharjah. Sri Lanka had set up a daunting target of 300 to chase for India, but it wasn't that much out of reach for a batting lineup that consisted of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and Vinod Kambli, among others. However, things went horribly wrong for India as Chaminda Vaas's five-wicket haul and a three-fer from Muttiah Muralitharan bundled India out for just 54 runs. 26.3 overs was all they could last and all of the Indian batsmen except Robin Singh scored in single-digits.
63 vs Australia (Sydney | Jan 1981)
It was the ninth match of the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup played between India and Australia at Sydney in 1981. Winning the toss, Australia asked India to bat first. And it turned out to be a memorable match for the Australian skipper Greg Chappell as he did everything right. First, he called rightly at the toss and then went on to break the back of India's batting lineup with a five-wicket haul. India were bowled out for just 63 runs, their lowest total in ODIs back then and second-lowest till date. But even that wasn't enough for Chappell as he went on to top score with the bat as well. He remained unbeaten on 33 to guide Australia to victory with nine wickets in hand.
Read | Three lowest ODI totals by Australia
78 vs Sri Lanka (Kanpur | Dec 1986)
Sri Lanka have time and again been a headache for India in the past. This particular score was India's second-lowest ODI total at that point of time until it slipped down to third in 2000. This was the opening game of the five-match ODI series during Sri Lanka's tour of India in 1986. It was a 46-overs match in which Sri Lanka put on a total of 195/8 on the board, a total which used to be quite competitive in those days.
A strong Indian batting lineup which consisted of Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Krisnamachary Srikkanth, among others was expected to put pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. However, things went totally south for India as Arjuna Ranatunga and Ravi Ratnayake wreaked havoc with a 4-fer and 3-fer respectively. India were, thus, bowled out for just 78 runs and none of their batsmen except Srikkanth and Vengsarkar reached double-digit scores.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Jorge Ferrari
