India's most forgettable moments in ODI Cricket
If you have been following India’s ODI expeditions in the last six months or so, you might have more grey hair than earlier. It feels like they have suddenly gotten onto a roller-coaster they are not quite sure how to get down from.
They thrashed England 3-1 and then went on to lose all four games down under, two against Australia and two against England. From there, they went on an incredible seven-game winning streak to reach the World Cup semi-finals defeating the likes of South Africa and Pakistan with ease.
But in the first series after the World Cup and the carnival called IPL, they lost 1-2 to Bangladesh in Bangladesh, their first bilateral series defeat against the side that looked ordinary in the lone Test that was perpetually interrupted by the rain.
History shows that India has had some ebbs in its wonderful ODI history but has made great comebacks when least expected. But today, we will take a look at some of its more painful losses in One Day Internationals.
Mind you, a lot of contemporary games have been chosen over games in the early ODI era largely because you are not quite saddened as much when you are at the bottom as you are when bigger things are expected of you.
#6 Port of Spain, Against Bangladesh, Lost by Five Wickets
To many Indians, this defeat still hurts. It remains one of the biggest blotches on an otherwise glorious career of Rahul Dravid who captained India in the 2007 World Cup. India crashed out in the first round and didn’t even make it to the Super Eight. The whole tournament’s TV ratings suffered because of India and Pakistan crashing out so early.
Batting first, India managed just 191 with Sourav Ganguly scoring a painful 66 in 129 balls.
Tamim Iqbal smashed a 53-ball 51. The other three pillars of the current Bangladesh team that beat India recently also contributed. Mushfiqur Rahim scored an unbeaten half-century and so did Shakib Al Hasan. But Mashrafe Mortaza was given the Man of the Match for his bowling figures of 4-38 that devastated the Indian batting order.
Bangladesh chased steadily and reached the target in 48.3 overs winning by five wickets. India lost subsequently to Sri Lanka and were knocked out, with only two teams proceeding to the next round from each group of four.