5 memorable Indian ODI performances in Australia over the years

Ravi Shastri's finest hour came during the World Championship of Cricket in 1985With the arrival of 2016, one of cricket's most talked-about rivalries will be renewed when India lock horns with an in-form Australian side. While the latter does seem to be clear favourites despite missing some key players, the former has more than a point to prove to its detractors. For beleaguered captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, nothing less than a series win will relieve the immense pressure that he has been fighting for long. Perhaps a new-look side will help in restoring fans' faith in the leader. And of course, there is history to borrow from. India's spirited performances in the World Championship of Cricket over thirty years ago is still the stuff of cricketing folklore - and current team director Ravi Shastri would remember it vividly. The current crop of cricketers will also recall the deeds done by the 2008 side, helmed by the incumbent skipper, against the backdrop of an ill-tempered Test tourney.Chosen for this reminiscence are five instances where India have dominated in Van Diemen's land, and not just against the home team. The board is set. The pieces are ready to move. History beckons.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar (117 vs Australia, Sydney - March 2008)

Sachin Tendulkar’s century signalled India’s fitting response to a largely abrasive tour

The entire Monkeygate affair had left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Driven by a need to erase the injustice meted out to them, the Men in Blue delivered a set of impressive performances in the ODI leg. They squared off against the hosts in the first of three finals at Sydney, and Ricky Ponting’s pre-game comments about his side not having to play all of these matches fired them up even more.

Sachin Tendulkar chose exactly that game for his response. He batted like a man possessed – power, precision and placement evident in his shot selection. Starting off with a resolute half-century opening stand with Robin Uthappa, he weathered the loss of three quick wickets before stepping it up a notch in the company of young Rohit Sharma.

The latter oozed serenity and calmness (something that’s missing in his game these days), while the veteran unleashed his strokes all over the SCG, even surviving a beamer from pacer Brett Lee. Tendulkar swiftly brought up his maiden ODI century in Australia as he and Sharma raised 123 runs for the fourth wicket before James Hopes broke the partnership.

However, the Little Master was not to be denied, and he brought up the winning runs in Dhoni’s company, finishing unbeaten on 117. He would go on to play yet another composed innings in the second final, as India took home the trophy and made Ponting’s prediction come true!

#2 Sourav Ganguly (141 vs Pakistan, Adelaide, January 2000)

Dada played one of the finest innings in ODIs against Pakistan

For a man who shares his initials with Australia’s famous Sydney Cricket Ground, the Prince of Calcutta (as Geoffrey Boycott addressed him on-air at the time) selected a different field to secure India’s first win on a nightmarish international tour. And he did it with such aplomb that it rubbed off on the U-19 team playing the semi-finals of the World Cup in far-off Sri Lanka too!

Batting first, India got off the blocks quite rapidly, with skipper Tendulkar playing his shots while Ganguly was content to play second fiddle. The left-hander then switched gears upon his partner’s dismissal – skillfully piercing the field with those gorgeous cover drives through the off-side, silken caresses all over the park. Even the wily Saqlain Mushtaq wasn’t spared as the Bengal batsman used his feet well to nullify his threat.

In the process, Ganguly notched up his eleventh century in ODI cricket, finishing on 141, as India posted a sizeable 267 on board. Anil Kumble then finished off proceedings with a four-wicket haul; however, Dada’s scintillating innings was the highlight of India’s tour Down Under.

#3 Virat Kohli (133* vs Sri Lanka, Hobart, February 2012)

Kohli’s blitz obfuscated Sri Lanka’s challenge at Hobart that night

It has been a long-standing malaise of Indian cricket teams visiting the Australian shores – they put up a shambolic set of performances during the league stages, leaving them with nothing but mathematical chances of making it through to the finals – and it was felt even more during the 2012 Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series when they faced off against Sri Lanka in their last group game.

A bonus point became the Holy Grail for the then world champions if they had any chance of making it to the summit clash. Hopes faded almost immediately after the island nation posted a mammoth 320/4 courtesy Tillakaratne Dilshan’s unbeaten 160 and Kumar Sangakkara’s buccaneering 105. India needed 321 in 40 overs to keep their hopes alive.

In walked Virat Kohli with the total on 86/2. He promptly raced off the blocks, mixing caution with aggression as he went about decimating the bowling while putting on a century stand with statemate Gautam Gambhir (63). The sparse crowd at the Bellerive Oval were treated to audacious strokeplay from the 23-year old batsman, watching him dominate at will.

The Delhi batsman smashed the winning boundary to remain unconquered on 133 from just 86 deliveries, posting an unfinished century partnership with Suresh Raina, as India cantered home in just 36.4 overs. It stands out for its refined brutality in every sense of the word.

#4 Yuvraj Singh (139 vs Australia, Sydney - January 2004)

Yuvraj’s magnificent hundred nearly helped India pull off a famous win

Sport can often be as cruel as the weather. Rains, especially, have proven to be both blessing and curse – especially when one of the two combatants is giving it their all to win. India found that out to their cost on a cold January day at Sydney. It also didn’t help their cause that Sachin Tendulkar was out of this game.

Nevertheless, the match will still be remembered for two contrasting centuries – a steady one from VVS Laxman, Australia’s perennial thorn-in-the-flesh, and a stylish innings from Punjab dasher Yuvraj Singh – that powered India to an ominous 296 after skipper Sourav Ganguly won the toss and chose to bat first.

While the Hyderabadi batsman was solidity personified, Yuvraj was all about power and timing. On a surface that played true, the young left-hander reeled off his trademark drives. None of the Aussie bowlers managed to exert any sort of control over him; indeed, the shrewd Ian Harvey was belted for 22 runs in the 49th over of the innings. When Brett Lee finally broke through Yuvraj’s defences, the latter had scored 139 of the best.

Though Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting gave a fitting riposte with their knocks, it was Lee’s powerful six off Lakshmipathy Balaji that sneaked Australia past the revised total (after 16 overs of the chase were lost due to rain). Heartbreaking for India indeed, but Yuvraj’s innings remains a glittering memory.

#5 Rohit Sharma (138 vs Australia, Melbourne - January 2015)

The Hitman seemed to be the only one capable of handling Mitchell Starc’s thunderbolts

Rohit Sharma seems to enjoy batting at Melbourne. After all, two of his three-figure knocks in ODI cricket have come at the MCG. Though the eventual outcomes have been mixed, the Mumbai player crafted an innings built on sound defence, excellent timing and powerful hitting as India set out to post a winning total against Australia in January 2015.

Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc rocked the defending world champions at regular intervals, but Sharma held firm. The first signs of aggression came when he hammered Pat Cummins back over his head for the first of four massive sixes. Picking the gaps almost effortlessly, the opener not only kept Starc at bay, but also took apart the rest of the bowling without too much fuss.

The MI captain made 138 runs overall, having added 126 runs with Suresh Raina, as India reached 267 in their allotted 50 overs. Aussie opener Aaron Finch’s 96, combined with Starc’s six-wicket haul, piloted the home side to their second successive win in the Carlton Mid Tri-Series; however, Rohit had assured his spot in the upcoming World Cup with his monumental effort.