5 High voltage India v Australia clashes in ODIs

Snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat at Kolkata back in 2001, the mind-boggling triumph at Adelaide back in 2004, the miracle at Perth back in 2008, we can talk about these matches for ages and never get bored. Such has been the ferociousness of this rivalry between India and Australia; the folklores will keep reverberating as long as cricket exists.

The Ashes keeps people on the edge of their seats, so does an India-Pakistan encounter. These rivalries are not just famous for the intense duels on the field, but also for few facets which have nothing to do with cricket. Political history is one thing that makes these rivalries quite messianic and the fans sometimes tend to make these battles bigger than what they are.

Going purely by cricketing terms, all these above-mentioned battles would rank right up there amongst the best, but there’s something special about India and Australia locking horns on the field. Temperatures boil, verbals spats enrages the cricketers and not to mention, the fans. Glares from the fast bowlers, thumping cricketing shots from the batters, one gets everything he wishes to experience in a cricket match.

Yet again, both these cricketing giants will be up against each other for another brilliant limited-overs series, which promises a lot of entertainment as always. On this special eve, let’s take a look at five of the most enthralling, nerve-wracking and high voltage duels between the sides in ODI cricket.

1. India v Australia, World Cup 2011, Quarter-final:

When I sit back on my couch and think about the best memory from an Indo-Aussie tie, this one ranks at the helm without a shadow of a doubt. This game seemed like a fable, considering how inexplicably it turned on its head, thanks to one of the greatest ODI knocks played by the immortal Yuvraj Singh.

Batting first, Ricky Ponting registered a hundred, which eventually turned out to be his last in World Cups. Indian bowlers, especially Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj, were just terrific and managed to restrict all the batsmen barring the genius of Ponting. Nevertheless, a good cameo from David Hussey pushed them past the 250-run barrier and Australia had 260 runs to defend.

After losing Sehwag early, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir took the onus upon themselves to drive India all the way. They added 50 runs for the second wicket and Tendulkar was dismissed after scoring a fifty. Kohli started off well, but when he fell, wickets tumbled and India were in grave danger at 187/5 in 38 overs, with the asking rate creeping over 6.5 and only two established batters left in the lineup.

Yuvraj and Suresh Raina saved a million hearts from breaking down with a partnership of a lifetime. Both teams were fighting their life out, but eventually, Yuvraj’s extraordinary half-century proved decisive and India brought an end to the Kangaroo monopoly in World Cups, in some style.