India and Australia have had made enthralling encounters over the past few years. Both the teams have managed to put each other under pressure on different occasions and have tried to dominate them. However, there were times when few batsmen managed to sustain the pressure and come up on the top of the opposition. There have been many amazing partnerships made by Indian batsmen against Australia in the history of ODI cricket. Here is a look at 4 such huge partnerships for India against Australia in ODIs.
1. VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh – 213
It was the seventh ODI between India and Australia of the 2004 ODI series and India bated first. They lost wickets at regular intervals and at one stage were 80-3 with VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh at the crease. The duo consolidated the Indian innings fist and then began to play their shots, capitalizing on the loose deliveries. The duo put on a record stand of 213 runs which still is the highest partnership by any Indian pair against Australia in ODIs. Yuvraj brought up his maiden ODI hundred and played a brilliant knock of 139, including 16 fours and 2 sixes.
Laxman himself scored a well-compiled century and remained unbeaten on 106 at the end as India posted a mammoth 296-4 in their 50 overs. Although Australia won by D/L method, this partnership still remains as one of the best by India against Australia.
2. Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli – 212
India played Australia in the fourth ODI at Canberra and having already lost the ODI series 3-0 back in 2016, India were playing for pride. Australia batted first and posted a mammoth total of 348-8, thanks to a brilliant 93 from David Warner and a fantastic century from Aaron Finch. India needed a good start from their openers but Rohit Sharma perished after scoring a quickfire 41. Shikhar Dhawan was then joined at the crease by chase master Virat Kohli and the duo did not let the momentum given by Rohit Sharma slip. They smashed the Australian bowlers all around the park and absolute spared no one.
Dhawan scored 126 runs off just 113 balls including 14 fours and 2 sixes while Kohli scored a brilliant century too, scoring 106 runs off just 92 balls. The duo added 212 runs for the second wicket which is the second-highest ODI partnership for India against Australia in ODIs. India looked set to chase down this mammoth target, but a late batting collapse saw them fall short by 25 runs.
3. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli – 207
India batted first in the first ODI of the 2016 series against Australia at Perth and lost Shikhar Dhawan early. However, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli began to do what they do best, and that is belting the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground. The duo played brilliantly together and set up a fantastic platform for the other Indian batsmen to follow.
Adding 207 runs which is the third-highest partnership for India in ODIs against Australia, Rohit and Kohli were absolutely brilliant with the bat. While Kohli got dismissed for 91, Rohit went on to remain unbeaten on 171 off just 163 balls including 13 fours and 7 huge sixes and propelled India’s score to 309-3 in 50 overs. Australia though chased down the target comfortably in the end, with five wickets in hand.
4. VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar – 199
India played Australia in the 3rd ODI at Indore in 2001 and batted first, trying to put scoreboard pressure on the Aussies. After losing Rahul Dravid early, Sachin Tendulkar was joined by VVS Laxman at the crease and the duo began to take the Australian bowling attack to the cleaners.
Tendulkar scored a brilliant 139 runs off just 125 balls while Laxman chipped in with a useful 83. India posted a mammoth total of 299-8, thanks to a partnership of 199 between Tendulkar and Laxman. It was too much for Australia in the end as they got bowled out for 181.
