So near yet so far! 8 times when India lost by narrow margins in ODIs

23 January,2017 05:40 PM IST |   |  mid-day online correspondent

The Indian cricket team lost the third and final ODI at Eden Gardens on 22 January to England by a very narrow margin, but managed to clinch the series 2-1. We give you some instances when the Men In Blue came close to victory in ODIs but could not seal it


The Indian cricket team lost the third and final ODI at Eden Gardens on 22 January to England by a very narrow margin, but managed to clinch the series 2-1. We give you some instances when the Men In Blue came close to victory in ODIs but could not seal it.

9 October 1987: India lose by 1 run to Australia at Chennai

Geoff Marsh.

During the Reliance World Cup, Australia posted a strong total of 270 runs after Geoff Marsh scored a century. Opener Kris Srikkanth and ODI debutant Navjot Singh Sidhu scored fifties but after their dismissals, India lost their next 7 wickets in a margin of 62 runs thanks to Craig McDermott and lost by just 1 run.

1 March 1992: India lose by 1 run to Australia at Brisbane
India oce again faced the Aussies with Dean Jones scoring 90 helping his team set a 238 target for India during the 1992 World Cup. After openers Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri fell leaving India at 53/2 with a revised target of 236 in 47 overs, Azharuddin stepped up and scored 93 runs with help from Sanjay Manjrekar. Needing 13 in the final over, India failed to achieve the target.

20 May 2006: India lose by 1 run to West Indies at Kingston

Ramnaresh Sarwan and MS Dhoni

During the ODI series against West Indies, Dhoni and Co were given a target of a mere 198 runs with only Ramnaresh Sarwan scoring an unbeaten 98 after Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar bagged a total of 5 wickets. But India met the same fate with their wickets falling at regular intervals with the exception of Yuvraj Singh who scored 93 and was the last man to fall.

17 August 1997: India lose by 2 runs to Sri Lanka at Colombo

Rahul Dravid jumps up to stop a powerful hit by Sanath Jayasuriya

SL openers Jayasuriya and Atapattu put on a 91 opening stand with the former blasting 73 runs. Atapattu scored a century with support from Roshan Mahanama's fifty as Lankans posted a mamoth 302 on board. With India's top 4 batsmen including Tendulkar, Ganguly and Dravid out of the picture, the visitors were struggling at 64/4. Middle order stars Azharuddin and Jadeja stepped up with both scoring centuries during their 223-run partnership. However, it was not enough as India managed 300 on board.

18 April 1986: India lose to Pakistan by 1 wicket in Sharjah

Javed Miandad hits a six off the last ball. Pic Courtesy/ YouTube

Indian opener Gavaskar and Srikkanth were off to a flying start with both scoring big fifties during their 117-run stand. Dilip Vengsarkar also followed up with a fifty of his own as India posted 245 on board. Pakistan struggled at 61/3 but a heroic century and the most historic and dramatic six from Javed Miandad in the last over of Chetan Sharma helped Pakistan snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.

20 October 2016, India lose by 6 runs to New Zealand at Delhi
After Kane Williamson's 118 helped the Kiwis put on a total of 243, India never could manage a healthy partnership as wickets fell at regular intervals as Tim Southee and Trent Boult led the attack. India's highest score came from Kedar Jadhav's 41 with Kohli's rare dismissal in single digits as India could manage only 236.

11 October 2015: India lose by 5 runs to South Africa at Kanpur

AB de Villiers takes a run as Axar Patel looks on

Chasing a challenging 303 posted by South Africa thanks to a quickfire century by AB de Villiers, India went off to a flying start with opener Rohit Sharma smashing a brilliant 150 runs and a fifty from Ajinkya Rahane during their 149-run partnership. However, the middle order collapsed quickly with Steyn, Tahir and Rabada bagging a total of 5 wickets.

5 November 2009: India lose by 3 runs to Australia at Hyderabad

Sachin Tendulkar disappointed after his dismissal

Australia were on a rampage right from the start with openers Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh putting on a 145-run stand with Watson scoring 93 and Marsh hitting a century. Ponting and Cameron White took things forward to take the Aussies to 350. India had their task cut out when Sehwag fell for 38 runs, but it was the master blaster Sachin Tendulkar who stood out on this day with a phenomenal 175 runs. Sadly, it was still short for the Men in Blue as India managed 347 runs.

All Pics/ AFP

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Related Stories