The recent times have seen Indian players ‘giving it back’ to the Australians during cricket matches. Virat Kohli made a similar claim not too long ago suggesting that India’s high spirited attitude was instantly disliked by their Oceanic opponents.

Competition in ODIs between the two teams dates back to the 80s when India and Australia faced one another at MCG, a match that was won by India.

Years into it, the matches have only grown intense with no team (or player) willing to back down, in the process taking the match down to the wire.

Here we look at five intense India vs. Australia ODI battles that kept us on the edge of our seat at all times –

Reliance World Cup – October 9, 1987 (Australia won by 1 run)

Geoff Marsh scored 110 against India in the 1987 World Cup

This was the fourth edition of the cricket World Cup with India and Pakistan being the host nations. India faced Australia in the third match of the tournament. Winning the toss, the hosts decided to field first, with Australia scoring 270 runs from 50 overs. Though India’s first three batsmen played their part, the rest of the middle order struggled to cope up with the target of 271 runs eventually scoring 269 all out.

Benson and Hedges World Cup – March 1, 1992 (Australia won by 1 run)

Dean Jones scored a handy 90 runs in India’s 1 run defeat

India, again, lost by one run against Australia in a World Cup match. This time around, however, it was the 1992 edition of the tournament. India winning the toss and deciding to field first was similar to that of their earlier 1-run defeat in the 1987 World Cup. For Australia, it was Dean Jones who fired scoring 90 runs, in Australia’s total of 237 runs. The match was interrupted in the 17^th over when India batted leading to the chasing total being revised. India were all-out for 234 runs.

Commonwealth Bank Series – March 4, 2008 (India won by 9 runs)

SAchin Tendulkar’s 91 helped India beat Australia in the CB Series final 2-0

India performed well in the Commonwealth Bank Series eventually making its way into the best of three finals against Australia. India had already won the first match and was inching towards being the first team to beat Australia 2-0 in the CB Series. Batting first, India scored 258 runs with Sachin Tendulkar top scoring the innings with 91 runs. Australia’s middle-order batting stepped up to the occasion after its opening stand failed. James Hopes was the last batsman to get out when he skied one to mid-on off Piyush Chawla’s delivery presenting India the victory by 9 runs.

Australia in India ODI Series – October 30, 2013 (India won by 6 wickets)

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma’s opening stand helped India chase Australia’s colossal target

The 7-match ODI series initially appeared long, but as the tournament proceeded, it only brought more joy and thrill to the audience. India was trailing 2-1 from five matches, with the fourth and fifth match being washed out. In the sixth ODI, Australia batted first and scored 350 off 50 overs after India won the toss and elected to field. The target, without a doubt, was colossal. The top three batsmen – Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli – played handy knocks scoring 79, 100 and 115, respectively. India chased the target of 351 with three balls to spare.

Australia in India ODI Series – November 2, 2013 (India won by 57 runs)

Rohit Sharma’s 209 runs set the tone for India as they amassed 383 runs in 50 overs

India chasing 351 meant that it was on level (2-2) with Australia. The final, too, was nothing less than a thriller. This time Australia won the toss and put India to bat. Rohit Sharma scored 209 runs, in the process becoming the third cricketer to cross the 200-run barrier in an ODI innings. The hosts put up a massive total of 383 runs in 50 overs. Though Australia lost half their side while on 132 runs, it was James Faulkner, who scored a quick fire century nearly taking the game off India’s grasp. Australia was all out for 326 runs.

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The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup has reached an interesting stage. It is India vs Ireland tomorrow, another Group B match with a lot at stake for the minnow team.

India and Ireland compete on 10th March

Ireland is just one point shy of making it to the quarter-finals. A victory tomorrow for the Irish would mean Pakistan or West Indies facing elimination.

It would be fair to say that Ireland has not been a consistent team, but they have not let go of the habit of disappointing Full Members. They have already beaten West Indies and Zimbabwe in this edition.

India, on the other hand, qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating West Indies in their last match. The ‘Men in Blue’ now have four victories in four matches with two more to go.

India have already qualified for the quarter-finals

Ireland, too, have two tough matches – India and Pakistan. They have amassed six points from their four matches; one more point and they sail through into the quarter-finals. 

Head to Head

India and Ireland have faced once earlier (2011 ICC World Cup), where the team from the subcontinent convincingly beat their European rival.

India are 1-0 against Ireland

The Teams

Though Ireland’s team, more or less, looks the same since the two teams last met, Team India’s look is different. The young guns would be aware about their rival’s habit of defeating top teams and will want to give their best shot.

“I don’t think their guard will ever be down and they’re not going to look to lose any momentum from their point of view. Whatever they decide to do is out of our control”, said Ireland captain William Porterfield.

Ireland captain William Porterfield

The Location

One of the things that will be different for India on Tuesday is the pitch. They will be playing their first match in New Zealand in this World Cup edition with all their matches so far been played in Australia. Ireland though did play West Indies in their opening game at Saxton Oval, Nelson in New Zealand.

India will play their first match in New Zealand in this World Cup

Prediction

Ireland are clearly the underdogs in this match. Though India has a new team, they have displayed their prowess in all their four matches. India is likely to win this match.

However, if the game is washed out, both teams share one point each and Ireland enters the quarter-finals. This will mean Pakistan beating Ireland in their next meet or having a better NRR than West Indies to qualify.

If either Pakistan vs. Ireland or UAE vs. West Indies gets washed out, the team from the Caribbean will be knocked out of the tournament.

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