5 iconic India-Australia clashes in World Cup cricket
The India-Australia cricketing rivalry has been among the greatest in recent times across all formats of the game. Even though the Australians have dominated to some extent in terms of results, the Indian team has always put up a tough fight and has managed to down their rivals on a number of occasions.
Team India and the Aussies have also enjoyed an iconic rivalry in World Cups and have produced some heart-stopping encounters over the years. Most of their matches have been of great significance in the context of the tournament and the result has made a huge difference to the respective campaigns of the two teams.
As India and Australia collide once again for a spot in the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2016, we revisit some of the memorable matches between them in past World Cups.
India vs Australia at Mumbai, 1996 Wills World Cup
India hosted the 50-over World Cup in 1996, alongside neighbours Pakistan and Sri Lanka. As was expected, the Indians and the Aussies were among the favourites to lift the trophy even before the tournament began.
While the format of the tournament was such that the big teams quite easily made it to the quarter-finals, the Group A match between India and Australia was undoubtedly a big one. Batting first, the Australians rode a Mark Waugh century to post a total of 258, which was considered a very formidable one back in those days.
A younger version of Sachin Tendulkar led India's charge and was threatening to run away with the match. But Australia got a lucky break when Ian Healy stumped the master batsman off the bowling of century-maker Waugh.
The match turned on its head from there and Team India were bowled out for 242, losing the match by a small margin of 16 runs.