India’s lowest ODI totals at home
India suffered an embarrassing 10-wicket defeat against Australia in the second ODI on Sunday, March 19. This was their first ODI defeat in 2023 which came after seven straight wins. The match turned out as a one-sided affair at Visakhapatnam’s Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium where the hosts came second best in every department.
Mitchell Starc tore apart India’s top order by taking four early wickets and then ended India’s struggles at 117 runs in 26 overs. Then Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head chased the target in just 11 overs without losing a wicket. This proved as India’s lowest ODI score against Australia at home and an overall third-lowest. This was not their lowest ODI total at home. So, let’s take a look at India’s top-three lowest ODI totals at home so far.
3) 112 vs Sri Lanka, 2017
India’s third-lowest score at home came against Sri Lanka during the latter’s tour of India in 2017. In the very first match, the hosts were bowled out on just 112 runs in 38.2 overs in Dharamsala. Suranga Lakmal took 4/13 and India were struggling at 28/6 at one point. However, MS Dhoni’s 65 off 87 helped India past 100-plus total. That was not enough as Sri Lanka eased to the target in just 20.4 overs, losing only three wickets.
2) 100 vs West Indies, 1993
India won the CAB Jubilee Tournament 1993/94 by beating West Indies by 102 runs in the final. But they lost against the same opponent in the group-stage match by 69 runs. India’s innings collapsed on just 100 runs while chasing a revised target of 170 runs. Captain Mohammad Azharuddin top-scored with 23 runs but his teammates struggled at Ahmedabad’s Gujarat Stadium.
1) 78 vs Sri Lanka, 1986
India’s lowest ODI total at home came against Sri Lanka during a bilateral series in 1986 at Kanpur’s Green Park. Captain Kapil Dev and Maninder Singh shone with a ball to restrict Sri Lanka to just 195/8 in a 46-over game. But Indian batters produced one of the most disappointing performances in their ODI history. Arjuna Ranatunga took 4/14 to bowl out India’s innings on just 78 runs in 24.1 overs. Only Dilip Vengsarkar (15) and Kris Srikkanth (17) managed to score in double digits as India recorded their lowest total in ODIs at home.
