4 most memorable matches between India and Australia in ICC Cricket World Cup history

Four memorable occasions when India and Australia met in the history of ICC Cricket World Cup.

Chepauk Stadium will witness a high-voltage encounter between India and Australia on Sunday. India and Australia will begin their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8th. Expectations will be high from both camps as they enter Chepauk for one more memorable encounter in the World Cup. These two have always raised the standard of the game with their top-class performances at big events. From 1983 to 2019, India and Australia challenged each other nicely and looked to settle the score against each other. Australians are currently dominating the head-to-head numbers as they were on a complete demolition mission from 1996 to 2007 in the World Cup.

In the World Cup 2023, Australian team will be looking to settle the score against Indian team cricket, as they suffered defeat against India in their previous World Cup game in 2019. India defeated Australia by 36 runs in the last meeting. The first-ever World Cup match between the two nations was played in 1983 World Cup in England. Australia won the game by a huge margin of 162 runs. Both teams have played 12 games against each other, where Australia have dominated India eight times while India ended up winning four occasions. Let’s have a look at the memorable encounters between India and Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

1 . World Cup 1987, Chepauk Stadium, Madras (Now Chennai) - Australia won by 1 run :

After settling the score by 1-1 in the 1983 World Cup, both teams entered Chepauk to take the lead in the head-to-head score-line. Australian team was led by Allan Border, while 1983 World Cup winner Kapil Dev was still leading the Indian side. It was a tightrope game as India succumbed to two quick run-outs in the final moments and lost the game by just one run.

India had a wonderful start to their 271-runs chase, but as they came closer to the win, batting collapsed. India lost the last six wickets in just 23 runs when they only required 25 runs to win the game. Geoff Marsh (110) was awarded player of the match for his century. Later on, India again equalled the score to 2-2 with a big win over Aussies in the second-round league game played at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

2. World Cup 2003, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg - Australia won by 125 runs :

After the 1987 Delhi game, Australia dominated Indians on the world stage. Not only Indians, but they became a champion side with their invincible playing XI. The 2003 World Cup was one such event where Australia could do nothing wrong. Australia defeated India twice in the tournament, both times convincingly.

The 2003 final is still a haunting memory for team India fans. Australian captain Ricky Ponting's (140) and Damien Martyn’s (87) knocks made them champions for the third time.

Australia posted a huge total of 359 runs against India in the finals, and India failed to put up a fight against a lethal Australian pace attack. India were bundled out on 234. Earlier, Australia defeated India in the league round as well. They went on to win the 2007 World Cup as well and became the only team to win three back-to-back World Cups.

3. 2011 World Cup, Sardar Patel Motera Stadium, Ahmedabad - India won by 5 wickets 

After being decimated by Australians in the 2003 World Cup finals, team India got an opportunity to take their revenge in the 2011 World Cup. Playing in home conditions, Indians were favourites to win the championship. But their biggest hurdle was Australia. Once again, Australian captain Ricky Ponting went on to score a century at Motera Stadium in the quarter-finals, but the Indians were ready to take on Aussies this time.

Team India had a top-class batting performance, and their resistance tamed Australian bowlers. India won the game by 5 wickets, and India successfully chased down 261 runs in 47.4 overs. Sachin Tendulkar (53), Gautam Gambhir (50), and Yuvraj Singh (57) contributed immensely to the Indian chase. Suresh Rain also played his part with a cameo of 34 runs in 28 balls.

4. 2019 World Cup, The Oval, London - India Won by 36 runs :

After losing out on the 2011 edition, Australia got their hands on the World Cup title in 2015. They entered the 2019 World Cup in England as defending champions once again, but a little in-experienced and after a stormy 6-7 months in world cricket. Team India outclassed Australia at the Oval by 36 runs (DL method) in a high-scoring game. Team India had magnificent strength in their squad over Australia, and that showed when these two teams took on each other.

India’s top three players, Rohit Sharma (57), Shikhar Dhawan (117), and Vira Kohli (82) played marvellously against Australian pace bowlers to put 352 runs on the board. Australians did have a few partnerships, as David Warner (52), Steve Smith (69), and Alex Carey (55) put on a decent show, but they failed to reach the target. India won the game by 36 runs.