Top 5 Highest Run Chases By India in ODI Cricket
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have often starred in India's highest ODI chases
In One Day International (ODI) cricket, chasing down a huge total isn't just about the runs on the board. It's a mix of strategy, determination, and courage.
India's highest run chases in ODIs
Imagine the thrill: a giant total on the board, thousands of fans holding their breath, and the batting side facing the enormous challenge of scaling that mountain. While many teams stutter in the face of such colossal tasks, India has, over the years, emerged as a master of the chase.
From sunbathed grounds to floodlit arenas, Indian cricketers have turned potential losses into nail-biting wins and have given fans tales to cherish for a lifetime.
In this listicle, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and look at India’s Top 5 highest run chases in ODIs.
1. India vs Australia
Australia had put up a massive score of 359/5 with all their top-five – Aaron Finch, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, George Bailey, and Glenn Maxwell scoring impressive half-centuries. Vinay Kumar emerged as the pick of the Indian bowlers with two wickets for 73 runs. However, the highlight was India's extraordinary response.
Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma's tons guided India to their highest ODI run chase (Twitter)
The stellar opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan contributed 176 runs before the latter fell just short of a century by five runs. The unstoppable duo of Rohit and Virat Kohli then stitched a sublime partnership, resulting in both registering centuries and leading India to a comfortable win. The duo produced a stunning 186-run stand, with both Rohit and Kohli unbeaten on 141 and 100 respectively, ensuring India cruised to victory in just 43.3 overs and nine wickets to spare.
| Year | Place |
|---|---|
| October 16, 2013 | Jaipur |
2. India vs England, Pune, January 15, 2017
Buoyed by impressive performances from Jason Roy, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes, each scoring a half-century, England set a challenging total of 350/7. The Indian bowling saw flashes of brilliance, with Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah each clinching two crucial wickets. However, as India began its chase, the atmosphere grew tense. The hosts found themselves on shaky ground at 63/4, with their top order back in the pavilion, leaving many to believe the game was leaning in England's favour.
Virat Kohli & Kedar Jadhav scored centuries and pulled of a miraculous win (Twitter)
But the stadium's hum of concern soon transformed into roars of hope as chasemaster Kohli took charge. Scoring a mesmerizing 122, he found an unexpected but able partner in Kedar Jadhav, who played the innings of his life, racing to a 65-ball century, finishing at 120. Together, they mounted a counterattack, stitching a partnership that breathed life into India's chase. Their twin centuries set the stage, and it was Hardik Pandya who brought the curtain down, providing the finishing touches that saw India cross the line with a thrilling three-wicket win.
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| January 15, 2017 | Pune |
3. India vs Australia, Nagpur, October 30, 2013
Nagpur bore witness to an ODI masterpiece between India and Australia. The robust Aussie batting lineup, backed by explosive centuries from Shane Watson (102) and George Bailey (156) posted a ginormous score of 350/6. The Indian bowling had its moments, with spin twins Ravichandra Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja making their presence felt, each snaring two wickets. However, the spotlight soon shifted to India's top order, which had been in scintillating form throughout the series.
Virat Kohl's unbeaten 115 led India to victory against Australia (Twitter)
Rohit and Dhawan ignited the Indian chase with a mammoth opening partnership, stitching together a 178-run stand that set the tone for the innings. Although Rohit's resilient knock ended at 79, Dhawan's brilliance continued, with the left-hander scoring an attacking century (102). As the pressure began to mount, Kohli, ever the anchor for India in high-pressure situations, stepped up to the plate. Displaying a mix of technique and aggression, he notched up an unbeaten 115, ensuring India stayed on course. Together, Dhawan and Kohli produced a remarkable six-wicket win for India.
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| October 30, 2013 | Nagpur |
4. India vs Australia, Sydney, January 13, 2016
Featuring third time on this list are the mighty Aussies, who, riding on the back of splendid centuries from David Warner (122) and Mitchell Marsh (102), set an above pare total of 330/7. India's pace duo of Bumrah and Ishant Sharma delivered commendable spells, each bagging two wickets to curb the Australian momentum. As India's turn to bat came, expectations were high.
Manish Pandey scored his maiden ODI ton (Twitter)
The opening pair of Rohit and Dhawan didn't disappoint, laying a solid foundation for the chase. While Rohit narrowly missed his century, ending at 99, Dhawan chipped in with a stylish 78. But the day's highlight was yet to come. Enter Manish Pandey, who, amidst growing pressure, played a knock for the ages. Scoring his first-ever ODI century, Pandey's unbeaten 104 steered India to a stunning victory, rescuing them from the brink of a series whitewash after four consecutive defeats.
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| January 13, 2016 | Sydney |
5. India vs Pakistan, Mirpur, March 18, 2012
During Asia Cup 2012, the electric atmosphere of Mirpur's stadium became the stage for one of the most exciting ODI encounters between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan. Batting first, the Men in Green set a commanding score of 329/6. The innings was led by excellent centuries from Mohammad Hafeez, who scored a solid 105, and Nasir Jamshed, who notched up a brilliant 112. India's bowlers tried to stem the flow of runs, with both Ashok Dinda and Praveen Kumar claiming two wickets apiece.
Virat Kohli's 183 helped India beat Pakistan in Asia Cup 2012 (Twitter)
In reply, the Indian chase was nothing short of legendary. Leading from the front was Kohli, who unleashed a masterclass and played a phenomenal knock of 183 runs – the highest of his ODI career. However, it wasn't just the numbers; it was the grace, determination, and timing with which he played, turning the game on its head. Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit chipped in, each scoring valuable fifties, further consolidating India's position. Riding on these performances, India overcame their arch-rivals with six wickets to spare in what was one of the best ODI games between the two cricketing giants.
| Date | Place |
|---|---|
| March 18, 2012 | Mirpur |
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