Cricket, often celebrated for its thrilling highs, also comes with its share of heartbreaking lows. For the Indian cricket team, a powerhouse in the world of cricket, these lows have sometimes resulted in remarkably low scores in ODIs.Â
While India’s rich cricketing history is filled with triumphant moments, there have also been instances where the team faltered dramatically. The lowest total recorded by India in ODI cricket is a mere 54 runs, which came against Sri Lanka in Sharjah more than two decades ago.
This article explores 10 of those dismal performances where India’s batting lineup collapsed, resulting in their lowest totals ODIs.
10 Lowest Score in ODI by India
| Score | Overs | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
| 54 | 26.3 | v Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 29 Oct 2000 |
| 63 | 25.5 | v Australia | Sydney | 8 Jan 1981 |
| 78 | 24.1 | v Sri Lanka | Kanpur | 24 Dec 1986 |
| 79 | 34.2 | v Pakistan | Sialkot | 13 Oct 1978 |
| 88 | 29.3 | v New Zealand | Dambulla | 10 Aug 2010 |
| 91 | 29.1 | v South Africa | Durban | 22 Nov 2006 |
| 92 | 30.5 | v New Zealand | Hamilton | 31 Jan 2019 |
| 100 | 36.3 | v Australia | Sydney | 14 Jan 2000 |
| 100 | 28.3 | v West Indies | Ahmedabad | 16 Nov 1993 |
| 103 | 33.4 | v Sri Lanka | Dambulla | 22 Aug 2010 |
1. India vs Sri Lanka, Sharjah, 2000
In the late autumn of 2000, India faced Sri Lanka in Sharjah, only to be bowled out for a paltry 54 runs. This match remains the lowest score of India in ODI. Chasing a target of 300, the Indian batsmen crumbled under the relentless pressure from the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan were particularly effective, exploiting the conditions and India’s tentative approach. Vaas took 5 wickets for just 14 runs, while Muralitharan supported well with 3 wickets for 6 runs.Â
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2. India vs Australia, Sydney, 1981
The early 1980s saw a young Indian team struggling to find its footing in the limited-overs format. In Sydney, against a formidable Australian side, India was skittled out for just 63 runs. The pace and precision of Dennis Lillee and Len Pascoe left the Indian batsmen in disarray. Lillee and Pascoe took 3 wickets each, dismantling the Indian batting lineup.
3. India vs Sri Lanka, Kanpur, 1986
The winter of 1986 in Kanpur brought another dismal performance by India against Sri Lanka, as they managed only 78 runs. This match was characterized by excellent seam bowling from the Sri Lankan attack, particularly Rumesh Ratnayake, who dismantled the Indian batting lineup with figures of 4 wickets for 14 runs.
4. India vs Pakistan, Sialkot, 1978
In one of the earliest ODIs between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, the Indian team could muster only 79 runs in Sialkot. The intense rivalry, combined with the formidable Pakistani bowling lineup led by Sarfraz Nawaz, proved too much for India. Nawaz took 4 wickets for 27 runs, ably supported by Imran Khan who took 3 wickets.
5. India vs New Zealand, Dambulla, 2010
A more recent debacle occurred in Dambulla, 2010, against New Zealand, where India was bowled out for 88 runs. The overcast conditions and the seam-friendly pitch played into the hands of the New Zealand bowlers, with Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills causing significant damage.
Tuffey and Mills took 3 wickets each, exploiting the lateral movement and leaving the Indian batsmen struggling to cope.
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6. India vs South Africa, Durban, 2006
The picturesque Kingsmead ground in Durban was the setting for another low point in Indian cricket, with the team managing just 91 runs against South Africa.
Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini spearheaded a lethal bowling attack, with Pollock taking 3 wickets for 17 runs and Ntini 5 wickets for 21 runs, exploiting the pace and bounce of the pitch. This match exposed India’s difficulty in handling fast, bouncy tracks outside the subcontinent.
7. India vs New Zealand, Hamilton, 2019
Hamilton in 2019 saw India bowled out for 92 runs by New Zealand. Trent Boult was the chief destroyer, swinging the ball prodigiously and leaving the Indian batsmen with no answers. Boult took 5 wickets for 21 runs.
8. India vs Australia, Sydney, 2000
Returning to Sydney in 2000, India faced another crushing defeat against Australia, being all out for 100 runs. Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee combined to decimate the Indian batting order, with McGrath taking 3 wickets for 34 runs and Lee 2 wickets for 29 runs.
This match, part of a challenging tour for India, reinforced the dominance of the Australian team during that era and India’s struggles in alien conditions.
9. India vs West Indies, Ahmedabad, 1993
In the early 1990s, the West Indies were a formidable force, and India learned this the hard way in Ahmedabad in 1993, being bowled out for exactly 100 runs.
The West Indies pace attack, led by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, proved too much for the Indian lineup. Ambrose took 3 wickets for 19 runs, while Walsh added 3 wickets for 30 runs. This game is often remembered for Ambrose’s fiery spell, which left the Indian batsmen in tatters.
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10. India vs Sri Lanka, Dambulla, 2010
Dambulla appears again in this list, with another low score for India against Sri Lanka, this time in 2010. India was restricted to 103 runs, with the Sri Lankan bowlers, especially Nuwan Kulasekara and Angelo Mathews, exploiting the pitch’s helpful conditions. Kulasekara took 3 wickets for 19 runs and Mathews 2 wickets for 25 runs.
Conclusion
These matches are stark reminders of the uncertainties and challenges in cricket. They also highlight the evolution of the Indian cricket team over the years, from struggling with hostile conditions and fierce opponents to becoming a dominant force in world cricket. Each of these low scores has played a part in shaping the resilience and determination of the team, contributing to its growth and success.
FAQs about India Lowest Score in ODI
Q) What is India’s lowest ODI total against Pakistan?
A) India’s lowest total against Pakistan in ODIs is 79 runs, recorded in Sialkot in 1978. The Indian batting lineup collapsed under the pressure of Pakistan’s formidable bowling attack. Sarfraz Nawaz was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 27 runs, while Imran Khan provided excellent support with 3 wickets.Â
Q) What is India’s lowest total in T20 internationals?
A) The Indian cricket team’s lowest score in T20 Internationals is 74, which came against Australia in 2008. In this match held in Melbourne, India struggled to chase down Australia’s modest total, ultimately falling short by nine runs.
Q) What is the lowest total in the T20 World Cup?
A) The record for the lowest total in T20 World Cup history is held by Netherlands. In 2014, the Dutch side was bowled out for 39 runs in 10.4 overs by Sri Lanka in Chattogram. Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis picked up three wickets each.
