Stats: Instances of India winning an ODI series after losing the first game

India has made a habit of winning the bilateral series coming from behind as they got better off the Aussies in the 3-match ODI series that concluded on Sunday. India suffered one of the biggest losses in the history of ODI cricket in the first match but clinical performances in the following two matches handed them comfortable wins. India ended 2019 in a similar fashion by defeating West Indies 2-1 margin after losing the first match of the series. This was the 3rd time since the start of 2019 that India won an ODI series after losing the first match of that series.

The recent most series win of India was the 16th ODI series victory from being 0-1 down after the opening match of the series. Not often we see the Australian team losing from such a position. However, in the last 11 years, the Aussie side lost three different ODI series after winning the first match of the respective series. Interestingly, all three have been against India. They lost the 7-match series in 2013 hosted by India which they started with a win. In fact, they were leading the series 2-1 prior to the last two matches.

Virat Kohli in the penultimate game and Rohit Sharma’s double ton in the decider sealed it for the Indians. At the start of 2019, the Australians took 1-0 lead in the 3-match home series against India before they ended up losing the series as they lost the last two matches. Overall, Australia lost only five series after winning the first ODI of a series. The 2002 home series against Pakistan and the 2008 5-match series in South Africa being the other such instances for the Aussies.

India winning an ODI series after losing the first match:

Outside the above-mentioned series, India were 0-1 down in the 4-match home ODI series against Sri Lanka in 2007 as well before the series. The first game turned out to be a washout while India lost the 2nd ODI by a narrow margin. They bounced back in the last two games with big wins to seal the series. India came from behind even during the 2004 ODI series in Pakistan as the hosts won 2nd and 3rd matches to take 2-1 lead in the 5-match series.

India winning an ODI series after losing the first match:

(Stats as on January 19, 2020)