London is gearing up for one of the most-anticipated matches of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. India take on their arch-rivals Australia at The Oval on Sunday in their second match of the 50-over showpiece event.
Australia had been the big boys of world cricket. No team has dominated the World Cup as much as the five-time champions over the years.
Australia are the defending champions but for arguably the first time, they are not starting as outright favourites. Australia had a horror run after losing two of their finest modern-day batsmen, David Warner and Steve Smith to ball-tampering suspensions.
India clinched their first-ever bilateral ODI series in Australia earlier this year as the Asian giants started their World Cup year on a high.
However, Australia peaked just ahead of the World Cup tournament, clinching a famous win over Virat Kohli’s men in a five-match ODI series at home. Ever since, the holders have been unstoppable as they went to the UAE to whitewash Pakistan.
Australia have begun their World Cup campaign well and, it is safe to say, they have laid down an early marker with a resolute show against the West Indies on Thursday.
Ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster clash between Australia and India in London, here we look at the history between the two powerhouses of world cricket in World Cups.
2015 in Melbourne – Loss: Australia knock India out in the semi-final
Steve Smith played spoilsport to India’s chances of reaching a second successive World Cup final as he hit a ton to help Australia post 328. All-rounder James Faulkner and Mitchell Johsnon came up with cameos. MS Dhoni fought a lone battle but it wasn’t enough as India’s middle order flopped.
2011 in Mohali – Win: India beat Australia enroute to World Cup glory
India ended Australia’s World Cup-winning streak as they finished without a title for the first time since 1996 after losing to MS Dhoni’s men in the quarter-final. Ricky Ponting’s century went in vain as India gunned down a 261-run total with a combined batting effort.
2007: Did not meet
2003 in Centurion, Johannesburg – Loss, Loss: Australia crush India in final
India suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final of the 2003 World Cup after Ricky Ponting smashed 140 from 121 to take the then defending champions to 359. In the herculean chase, India lost their top-order early and suffered a 125-run loss.
Before the final, India had suffered a 9-wicket loss to Australia when the two teams met in the group stages. Jason Gillespie and Brettt Lee demolished India’s batting line-up with 6 wickets between them.
1999 in London – Loss: Australia thrash India at The Oval
India and Australia met in the 1999 World Cup at The Oval in London. Glenn McGrath won the game for the Australians when he removed Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid for 0 and 2, respectively. Ajay Jadeja’s unbeaten hundred wasn’t enough as India fell short of a 283-run target by 78 runs.
1996 in Mumbai – Loss: Mark Waugh all-round effort helps Australia beat India
Mark Waugh hit 126 and picked up the crucial wicket of Sachin Tendulkar as India suffered a collapse and fell to a 16-run loss in Mumbai. Chasing 259, the Indian batting unit, heavily dependent on Tendulkar, lost the plot after the dismissal for the star batsman for 90.
1992 in Brisbane – Loss: India lose by 1 run
In a rain-affected match, India lost to Australia by 1 run. Australia posted only 237 riding on Dean Jones’ 90. Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar picked up 6 wickets between them but Mohammed Azharuddin’s 92 wasn’t enough to help India go past the finish line.
1987 in Chennai, Delhi – Loss, Win: India exact revenge
India lost their World Cup 1987 opener in Chennai to Australia by 1 run. Geoff Marsh’s hundred helped Australia post 270 and India lost their last 8 wickets for 62 runs in a tense chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
India gave it back to Australia in their second meeting of the 1987 World Cup in Delhi. Sunil Gavaskar, Navjot Singh Sidu, Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohammad Azharuddin hit half-centuries as India posted 289 before Azharuddin and Maninder Singh shone with the ball to restrict Australia to 233-all out.
1983 in Nottingham, Chelmsford – Loss, Win: Kapil’s Devils thash Australia enroute to glory
India suffered a 162-run defeat when the two teams met in Nottingham in the 1983 World Cup. Trevor Chappell’s hundred helped Australia post a mammoth 320 and Ken MacLeay picked up a six-wicket haul to restrict India to 158.
However, India dominated Australia in their Chelmsford meeting, clinching a 118-run win. Kapil Devil’s laid down a marker ahead of the World Cup semi-final beating Australia by a convincing margin.
Roger Binny and Madan Lal picked up 4-wicket hauls as Australia were bowled out for 129 in their chase of 248.
1979 and 1975: Did not meet
