5 Greatest ODI Chases by India

Over the years, India has developed into an excellent ODI side, and with two of the greatest 2nd innings batsmen in MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, it has developed a reputation for being exceptional at ODI run chases, so much so that sides opt to bowl first to avoid going up against its chasing might.

Through its history of nearly 950 ODI games, the Indian team has been on the end of numerous successful and failed chases. This list contains some of the best chases of the last 15 years. As with any lists, there is often conflict on what the best 5 are but it is undeniable that the 5 following chases were unbelievable displays of batting showmanship.

Of these selected chases, the common denominator is these two men, Dhoni and Kohli, who have revolutionised chasing in limited overs cricket and built a reputation for the Indian team’s chasing credentials.

India vs Sri Lanka – Match 11 at Hobart, Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series 2012

India were set 321 to win, and while this by itself was not an impossible chase in 2012, the requirements were steeper. Due to net run rate concerns in the tri-series, India not only had to chase the 321 but had to do so within 40 overs which would mean maintaining a run rate of over 8.

A gargantuan task, but it was chased. Best part? It took only 36.4 overs. This was the match that put Kohli on the map as an exciting prospect in limited overs cricket, as a 23-year-old Kohli scored 133 off just 86 deliveries to guide India home.

The Bellerive Oval in Hobart was treated to something special that night as Kohli went after the Sri Lankan bowling, mainly targeting Lasith Malinga who has a reputation of being one of the greatest limited overs bowlers. Everything they tried was futile as Kohli managed to pierce tiny gaps, striking 16 4s, and even put away pinpoint yorkers from Malinga to the boundaries as he brought out his now characteristic wristy shots.

India vs Australia – Match 4 at Adelaide, Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series 2012

Australia v India - ICC World Twenty20 2012: Super Eights Group 2

Another match from the same series and this chase went right down to the wire. The most memorable moment from this match was Dhoni’s towering 112m six over long on against Clint McKay in the last over.

Set 270 to win, the odds were in India’s favour as the familiar combination of Raina and Dhoni were at the crease with 31 runs required and 4 overs to go – a manageable required rate of 7.75 in the last 4 overs of the chase. Gambhir’s 92 and the partnership between Raina and Dhoni had set India on a steady course towards victory but with the fall of Raina and Jadeja in quick succession, India were staring down the barrel with 13 needed off the final over with Dhoni and Ashwin at the crease.

49.1: McKay to Ashwin – dot ball

49.2: McKay to Ashwin – 1 run

Dhoni was back on strike, 12 runs to win off 4. Dhoni was already facing criticism for taking the game to the last over as he often does and all the pressure was on him to take India home.

49.3: McKay to Dhoni – SIX runs

This ball lives on in numerous highlight reels of Dhoni’s greatest finishes on YouTube and it’s not hard to see why. Taking on one of the best bowlers of the night, Dhoni went for it aerially over an exceptionally long boundary at Adelaide and struck it sweetly. The job wasn’t done yet though, India still needed 6 off 3.

49.4: McKay to Dhoni – NO BALL and 2 runs

McKay was under the pump and bowled a waist-high full toss that was called a no-ball for height. To add salt to the wound, Dhoni hit this straight down the throat of deep square leg.

49.4: McKay to Dhoni – 3 runs

India pull off the chase, somehow, and Dhoni was hailed the hero.

India vs Australia – 2nd ODI at Jaipur, Australia tour of India 2013

Australia v India - Game 4 — Kohli scored the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian in this match

In one of the most famous ODI series, especially in recent times, India and Australia faced off in 7 ODIs in what was a closely-fought contest. India won the series 3-2 and there was no shortage of runs in this series as 350+ scores were not safe.

India were set 360 to win by George Bailey’s Australian side, and the Indians chased it in just 43.3 overs at an astonishing run rate of 8.32. It started with a dominant 176 run opening stand, with Shikhar Dhawan falling unluckily for 95 and missing out on a well-deserved century.

Virat Kohli joined Rohit Sharma at the crease and both of them went absolutely berserk, Kohli in particular. Kohli scored a 52-ball 100, which remains the fastest century by an Indian, and Rohit Sharma continued to smack them around the park, winning the man of the match for his 123-ball 141.

India vs Sri Lanka – Final at Port of Spain, West Indies Tri-Nation Series 2013

CRICKET-TRI-IND-SRI — Dhoni finishes it off in style

Another tri-series, another close finish. The opponent was again Sri Lanka. It was not a huge chase, India only needed to get 202 to win and that should have been a walk in the park with the calibre of batsmen the Indian team had.

They got off to a strongish start; though they lost Dhawan and Kohli cheaply, there was some rebuilding being done and Dhoni walked in to bat at 4/139 after Rohit’s wicket fell, joining Suresh Raina at the crease. Both men were established ODI batsmen, but Dhoni had come into the side just for the final after being injured previously so there were doubts over his form.

Raina fell soon after and a slide of wickets followed as the Indian lower order collapsed and left them at 167/8 with Dhoni their only hope. India needed 35 off 48. In trademark Dhoni fashion, he took the match deep into the last few overs and with 2 overs left there were 17 runs to get.

Ishant Sharma was on strike for every delivery of the penultimate over, and managed 2 runs but more importantly, didn’t get out. Last over – 15 to get. Dhoni on strike.

The first delivery was a dot ball as Dhoni failed to make contact with a wild swing outside off. The next 3 deliveries? They were all it took.

They went for 6, 4 and 6 and Dhoni snatched an improbable victory for India from the jaws of defeat.

India vs Sri Lanka – 3rd ODI at Jaipur, Sri Lanka tour of India in 2005

Mumbai Sports And Fitness — After Sangakarra's century set India 299 to win, Dhoni took the game away from them

The classic from 2005 to round off the list features the familiar opposition – Sri Lanka, who seem to have a penchant for being on the wrong end of India’s best performances whilst chasing. We started with the match that established Kohli as a great limited overs batsman and we end with the match that made Dhoni a household name.

Still very early in his career, Dhoni had developed a reputation for being an aggressive young batsman capable of dominating even the best bowling attacks on his day due to his 148* against Pakistan. This match, he was promoted to No. 3 in a chase of 299 and he unleashed carnage as he ended up scoring most of those runs himself, amassing an unbeaten 183. This at that time was the sixth highest ODI score and remains Dhoni’s best.

What is the most remarkable aspect innings, however, is that the next highest score was a 39 by Virender Sehwag.