Indian players have historically produced some of the best ODI batters. Legendary players over the years have crushed bowling attacks and collected massive totals, including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and others. When Indian hitters get going, they can ruthlessly smash even the best bowlers.
However, no team can be immune to batting collapses and low scoring horror shows occasionally. According to international cricket news, throughout India’s ODI history, there have been some shocking batting capitulations and meek totals posted even by talented lineups. This shows that on their day, bowlers can still boss over the vaunted Indian batting lineup if conditions suit them.
Let’s look back at 7 such instances when the heralded Indian ODI batting simply fell apart and was bundled out cheaply. These performances remain etched as some of India’s worst batting displays in the 50-over format. Spineless collapses, reckless shots, and submission to top class bowling meant that India’s totals in these matches plummeted to embarrassing lows.
54 all out vs Sri Lanka, 2000
This score of 54 all out remains India’s lowest ever total in ODIs. It came during the 2000 Champions Trophy played in Nairobi, Kenya.
Put in to bat first by Sri Lanka on a green top, the Indian batsmen simply had no answer to the swinging and seaming deliveries by the Lankan pacers. Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa ran through India’s powerful batting lineup with their accurate bowling.
Only Ganguly (26) and Robin Singh (13*) reached double figures as the rest crumbled in single digits. India folded for just 54 in just 26.3 overs with Vaas grabbing 5 wickets. Sri Lanka chased down the target easily in just 11 overs to inflict a humiliating 10-wicket loss. This score of 54 all out remains the lowest total India has ever been bowled out for in ODI history. It occurred during the 2000 Champions Trophy in Nairobi when India were demolished by Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa’s deadly swing bowling.
100 all out vs Australia, 1981
An infamous ODI defeat came at the hands of Australia in a group match at Leeds during the 1981 Prudential World Cup. India crashed to 100 all out in this 60-over contest after choosing to bat first.
Barring Yashpal Sharma’s 40, the rest of the Indian batsmen had no answers to the guile and swing of Aussie pacers Lillee, Lawson and Thomson. The 100 all out in just 37.5 overs illustrated India’s batting frailties outside home conditions at the time. Australia overhauled the paltry target in just 20.1 overs.
129 all out vs South Africa, 2005
This shockingly poor batting effort came in the opening match of a 6-game ODI series in South Africa. Having chosen to bat first at Centurion, India soon found themselves reeling at 29/6 under helpful conditions for the SA fast bowlers.
Only Yuvraj Singh provided some resistance with a counterattacking 60. But India still folded for a dismal 129 in just 38.2 overs. South Africa chased it down in just 20.2 overs led by Gibbs’ quickfire 55. It was a humiliating 10-wicket loss for India.
118 all out vs West Indies, 1994
India endured a nightmarish outing during this June 1994 ODI against West Indies at Port of Spain. Having opted to bat, India soon crashed against the Windies pace battery led by Winston Benjamin and Courtney Walsh.
No Indian batsman reached double figures as they folded for just 118 in 34.4 overs. Sachin Tendulkar was the top scorer with 9 runs. West Indies gun batsmen Lara and Richardson then toyed with the Indian bowling to race to a 10-wicket win in just 21 overs.
92 all out vs Australia, 2004
India’s batting order was blown away by the Aussie fast bowlers once again at Colombo during the 2004 Champions Trophy. Glenn McGrath wreaked havoc with the new ball to leave India reeling at 59/8 at one stage.
Only Yuvraj Singh provided any substantial resistance with 36 runs. India were eventually bowled out for just 92 in 33.1 overs. Australia chased down the small target comfortably to inflict another humiliating 10-wicket defeat on India.
79 all out vs New Zealand, 2016
This collapse came in a must-win group game at the ICC World T20 2016 hosted in India. Chasing 127, India seemed on course at 79-1 before a sensational batting collapse unfolded. The batsmen seemed to lose their heads and wickets tumbled rapidly.
India stunningly crashed from 79/1 to 79 all out in the space of just 23 deliveries against the canny swing bowling of Southee, Santner and Milne. It marked one of India’s worst collapses in the shortest format. New Zealand completed a shock 47-run win.
74 all out vs Australia, 2004
India suffered this dramatic batting collapse during a league match at the 2004 VB Series in Australia. Having won the toss and chosen to bat, India soon found themselves sinking at 37/6 against the bowling might of Lee and Gillespie.
Only Laxman (14) and Pathan (13) could reach double figures as the batsmen seemed clueless against express pace and bounce. India ended up being bowled out for a dismal 74 in just 24 overs, their third lowest ODI score ever against Australia. The Kangaroos raced to the target in just 14.5 overs.
Conclusion
India’s mighty batting lineup has conquered opponents innumerable times over the years in ODI cricket. However, these 7 performances showed even the best are not immune to low scoring disasters occasionally.
When conditions are bowler-friendly or the opposition is on fire, India’s batting is as vulnerable to collapses as any other team. Be it lethal pace attacks or canny swing bowling, India has crumbled dramatically at times when batsmen played reckless shots.
But such batting capitulations have been relatively rare for an outfit boasting of legends like Tendulkar, Kohli, Dhoni, Sehwag and others. While humiliating, these sub-100 or sub-120 performances over decades only highlight the high benchmarks the Indian batting has set for itself.