Biggest disappointments: India’s 5 lowest ODI totals in the 21st century

India has been one of the most successful cricket teams in ODI cricket. With two World Cup wins and being home to legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni, the craze for the sport in India is unreal. However, there have been some off-days for the Indian Cricket Team, and getting bowled out for scores of less than 100 are among the days to forget. Let us talk about some of those forgettable performances.

5) 100 vs Australia, 2000

India didn’t start the 21st century on a great note. Against Australia, they batted first in Sydney in the Carlton & United Series and were bowled out for 100 runs. Glenn McGrath and Andrew Symonds both picked up 4 wickets each, while brothers Brett Lee and Shane Lee scalped a wicket each. McGrath demolished the top order, picking up the wickets of the top 3 batsmen- Tendulkar, Ganguly and Laxman. Australia chased the total in 26.5 overs, losing 5 wickets. Andrew Symonds was adjudged Man of the Match for cleaning up the tail and scoring a composed 28* to take Australia home.

4) 92 vs New Zealand, 2019

This match is the most recent one in this list. It is also India’s lowest ODI score in the first innings in this century. Top cricketers like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah were rested for this match as Rohit Sharma led a lesser experienced side for this clash. India batted first at Hamilton, as they collapsed to 40/7 in the 17th over. Some unexpected runs from the spin-twins Yuzvendra Chahal (15) and Kuldeep Yadav (18)  made sure India did not create an unwanted record. New Zealand made merry of the target, chasing it down in 14.4 overs for the loss of just 2 wickets. Trent Boult was named Man of the Match for picking 5 wickets for just 21 runs.

3) 91 vs South Africa, 2006

India made their third-lowest ODI score of the century against South Africa in this clash in Durban. South Africa batted first and put up 248/8, powered by Jacques Kallis’ 119* off 160 balls. In response, India had nothing remarkable to put up apart from Tendulkar top-scoring with 36 runs. Andre Nel was the pick of the attack, taking 4 wickets for just 13 runs. Kallis was extraordinary with the ball as well, taking 3 wickets for just 3 runs and cleaning up the tail. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb all-round performance, as South Africa won by 157 runs.

2) 88 vs New Zealand, 2010

This game was the first time NZ humbled India for less than 100 in an ODI in the 21st century. New Zealand batted first in Dambulla in the Triangular Series in Sri Lanka, as Ross Taylor and Scott Styris scored 95 and 89 respectively- taking them to 288 runs. India started off well, until Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Karthik got dismissed in consecutive balls. India then collapsed from being 39/2 to 88 all-out. It was a team effort as all bowlers picked up wickets. However, the best pick of the lot was Daryl Tuffey with figures of 3/34- who took the wickets of Karthik, Rohit, and Raina. India lost the match by a whopping 200 runs and Ross Taylor was adjudged the Man of the Match.

1) 54 vs Sri Lanka, 2000

India got rolled over for just 54 runs against Sri Lanka in Sharjah in the finals of Coca-Cola Champions Trophy, 2000. Sanath Jayasuriya made a career-best 189, taking Sri Lanka to 299/5 in their 50 overs. In response, under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, India got destroyed by an excellent bowling spell of 5 wickets for 14 runs by Chaminda Vaas. Robin Singh top-scored for India with just 11 runs, as India lost by 145 runs and Sanath Jayasuriya was adjudged the Man of the Match.