Highest ODI totals for India against Australia
Australian cricket has produced some of the finest bowling attacks over the years. On the other hand, the Indian cricket team has been blessed with some of the finest batters the sport has ever seen. There have been some fascinating duels between these two sides and as the two sides are set to meet again in their World Cup opener on October 8 in Chennai, we take a closer look at the highest totals posted by the ‘Men in Blue’ against Australia in ODI cricket:
3) 362/1 in Jaipur in 2013
India and Australia played a seven-match ODI series in 2013. In the second game in Jaipur, Australia amassed 359/5 in their 50 overs on the back of half-centuries from their top five batters. The pitch was a belter but chasing such a steep total was going to be a stiff ask for the home side. They needed a strong start from the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. The two flamboyant batters stitched a 176-run partnership inside 27 overs to set a strong platform. However, when the left-handed batter was dismissed for 95 off 86 balls, a lot of work was still left. Virat Kohli joined Rohit and the two players took the team home in a canter with nine wickets in hand and 39 balls to spare. Kohli remained unbeaten on 100 off 52 balls, while Rohit finished on 141* off 123 deliveries. This is India’s highest successful chase in ODI cricket.
2) 383/6 in Bangalore in 2013
Bengaluru hosted the seventh and final ODI of the aforementioned series in 2013. Rohit Sharma continued his purple patch, scoring his first double-century in ODI cricket. The right-handed batter scored 209 off 158 balls, while Shikhar Dhawan and MS Dhoni scored quickfire half-centuries to take India to a massive score of 383/6. The score would have been higher but the trio of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, and Yuvraj Singh couldn’t get going. Australia were in no mood to go down without a fight as they gave the hosts a run for their money before being bowled out for 326 in 45.1 overs. India won the series 3-2.
1) 399/5 in Indore in 2023
India posted their highest score against the ‘Men in Yellow’ in 50-over cricket in the second ODI of a three-match series, in Indore, in 2023. Opener Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed early but the duo of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer registered elegant centuries and their 200-run partnership off 164 balls put India in the driver’s seat. Stand-in captain KL Rahul scored a quickfire half-century, while Ishan Kishan played an impactful cameo. Suryakumar Yadav’s 72* off 37 balls was the icing on the cake as the hosts posted 399/5 in their 50 overs. Australia couldn’t put up much of a fight as they were bowled out for just 217 in the rain-marred contest, losing by 99 runs (DLS method).
