Have India lost to any associate nation in an ODI clash?

Yes, they have. India lost to Sri Lanka, who were not a full member back then, during the 1979 World Cup. Kenya also stunned them in the 1998 Champions Trophy.

Why are ODI upsets against India so memorable?

India are such a powerhouse in ODIs in the history of the game. They are expected to beat most sides in any situation, especially in the modern age. So, for any team, it takes a lot to beat the blue brigade in the 50-over format.

How many ODIs have India lost against Bangladesh in the ODIs?

Bangladesh have faced India for 42 ODIs in the history of the game, out of which they have earned eight victories at a win-loss ratio of 0.242, including one no-result.

How many ODIs have India lost against Zimbabwe in the ODIs?

Zimbabwe have faced India in 66 ODIs in the history of the game, out of which, they have collected 10 victories at a win-loss ratio of 0.185, including two tied games.

Top 10 biggest upsets in India's ODIs

Over the years, India have been really successful in ODI cricket, having won two World Cups in the 50-over format, with the first one being the most memorable against the mighty West Indies in 1983 at Lord’s, followed by an end of 28 years at home against Sri Lanka in 2011. It has given them countless unforgettable victories, but it has also witnessed some stunning defeats that left the fans in shock.

There were several occasions when the Men in Blue entered the games as the favourites, only to be outplayed by the weaker team that few expected to earn the victory. Generally, the ODI upsets are quite rare, with the stronger teams usually finding a way back into the contest from setbacks.

From the World Cup heartbreaks to the historic wins by the underdogs and the associate nations, these games prove that the rankings and reputation don’t mean the end of the world. Once the game starts on a fresh day, both teams start from scratch.

Top 10 biggest upsets in India's ODI cricket history

Here are the top 10 biggest upsets in India’s ODI cricket history, revisiting the most shocking losses the team has suffered over the years. So, the question remains which game deserves to claim the number one spot, and which giant-killing performances would make the list? Time to start the countdown-

#10 Zimbabwe’s 1-wicket win in Faridabad, 2002-

It was the opening ODI of the five-match series in 2002 between Zimbabwe and India in Faridabad, where the hosts posted a clinical score of 274 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 50 overs. The score was shouldered by two half-centuries from Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

In reply, the tourists continued to lose wickets from one end and failed to get the potential acceleration in the chase. Andy Flower smashed a fine knock of 71 runs off 72 balls, but it was Dougie Marillier, whose unbeaten knock of 56 runs in just 24 balls with 10 fours and one six, completed their memorable victory by one wicket with two balls to spare.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 277/9 (Andy Flower 71, Dougie Marillier 56*, Zaheer Khan 4/47) beat India 274/6 (VVS Laxman 75, Heath Streak 2/53) by 1 wicket.

#9 Bangladesh’s two successive ODI wins vs India in Dhaka, 2022-

During the opening ODI of the three-match series between Bangladesh and India in 2022 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, the Rohit Sharma-led side was bundled out for 186 in 41.2 overs. KL Rahul smashed 73 runs off 70 balls with the help of five boundaries and four sixes. Shakib Al Hasan returned with figures of 5/36.

The hosts kept on losing wickets consistently in the chase and found themselves under pressure. But it was Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s unbeaten knock of 38 runs, with the help of four boundaries and two sixes, that completed the chase by one wicket, through the 51-run tenth wicket stand.

Even in the second game, the hosts earned the five-run victory in the 271-run defense as Miraz celebrated an unbeaten century.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh 187/9 (Litton Das 41, Mohammad Siraj 3/32) beat India 186 (KL Rahul 73, Shakib Al Hasan 5/36) by 1 wicket in 1st ODI.

#8 Kenya’s 69-run win vs India in Gwalior, 1998-

At the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior, Kenya stunned the blue brigade with a 69-run win. They batted first to post 265 runs for the loss of five wickets, thanks to the 100-run stand for the fourth wicket between Ravi Shah (70) and Maurice Odumbe, who drilled 83 runs off 91 balls, with the help of two boundaries and five sixes.

India, in reply, was bundled out for 196 runs in 47.1 overs as none of the batters was able to cross the 40-run mark, with Rahul Dravid being the leading run-getter individually with 33 runs off 53 balls. It was a memorable victory for Kenya, which raised their cricket a lot.

Brief Scores: Kenya 265/5 (Maurice Odumbe 83, Ravi Shah 70, Anil Kumble 2/27) beat India 196 (Rahul Dravid 33, Maurice Odumbe 3/14) by 69 runs.

#7 West Indies’ 6-wicket win vs India in Barbados, 2023-

It was the second ODI of the three-match series between West Indies and India in 2023 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, where the tourists batted first and were bundled out for 181 runs in 40.5 overs. None of the batters apart from Ishan Kishan, who notched up 55 off 55 balls, could do well in the line-up.

The Caribbean side completed the chase of 182 runs by six wickets with 13.2 overs to spare. Shai Hope, their captain, played a superb knock of 63 runs in 80 deliveries at a strike rate of around 78.75, with the help of two fours and as many sixes, in a partnership of unbeaten 91 runs for the fifth wicket.

Brief Scores: West Indies 182/4 (Shai Hope 63*, Shardul Thakur 3/42) beat India 181 (Ishan Kishan 55, Gudakesh Motie 3/36) by 6 wickets.

#6 Bangladesh’s 5-wicket win vs India in Dhaka, Asia Cup 2012-

It was the Asia Cup 2012 clash in Dhaka between Bangladesh and India. It was a memorable game for the blue brigade, for whom Sachin Tendulkar smashed a fine knock of 114 runs, which became his 100th century in international cricket. Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina also celebrated their fifties to end up with 289/5 in 50 overs.

The hosts completed the chase by five wickets with four balls to spare as all three batters, Tamim Iqbal, Jahurul Islam, and Nasir Hossain, got their fifties. India’s bowling wasn’t up to the mark as their spinners struggled to get the wickets.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh 293/5 (Tamim Iqbal 70, Nasir Hossain 54, Praveen Kumar 3/56) beat India 289/5 (Sachin Tendulkar 114, Mashrafe Mortaza 2/44) by 5 wickets.

#5 Zimbabwe’s 8-wicket win vs India in Bulawayo, 1997-

It was the opening ODI of the series between Zimbabwe and India in 1997 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The visitors were bundled out for 145 runs in 43,5 overs, with none of the batters showing any consistency and celebrating their fifties.

In reply, the hosts completed the revised chase of 139 runs by eight wickets in 25.5 overs. Their number three batter, Grant Flower, smashed an unbeaten knock of 61 runs off 71 balls at a strike rate of 85.92 with the help of nine boundaries.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 139/2 (Grant Flower 61*, Anil Kumble 1/18) beat India 168 (Robin Singh 45, Heath Streak 5/32) by 8 wickets.

#4 Zimbabwe’s 3-run win vs India in Leicester, 1999-

During the ICC World Cup 1999 clash between Zimbabwe and India at Grace Road in Leicester, the former posted a competitive score of 253 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs, with Andy Flower nailing an unbeaten 68 runs with the help of two boundaries at a strike rate of 80.

In reply to the chase, the blue brigade was bundled out for 249 runs in 45 overs, falling short of the target by three runs. They collapsed from being 155/3 to 175/5 in a space of just around six overs. Sadagoppan Ramesh’s 55-run knock wasn’t enough to take them over the winning line in the fixture.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 252/9 (Andy Flower 68, Javagal Srinath 2/35) beat India 249 (Sadagoppan Ramesh 55, Henry Olonga 3/22) by 3 runs.

#3 Zimbabwe’s successive wins vs Zimbabwe in Tri Series 2010-

During the opening ODI of the Tri-series 2010 in Bulawayo, India batted first and posted 285/5 on the back of Rohit Sharma’s fine knock of 114 runs off 119 balls with the help of six boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate of 95.80 while Ravindra Jadeja drilled 61*. But the hosts completed the chase by six wickets, with Craig Ervine and Brendan Taylor recording their respective fifties.

In the fourth encounter between the two sides at the Harare Sports Club, the home side restricted the two-time World Cup champions to 194/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Gregory Lamb picked up 3/45 in 10 overs. The home side completed the chase by seven wickets with 11.4 overs to spare, with Hamilton Masakadza and Taylor getting their respective fifties.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe 197/3 (Brendan Taylor 74, Hamilton Masakadza 66, R Jadeja 2/27) beat India 194/9 (R Jadeja 51, Gregory Lamb 3/45) by 7 wickets in 4th ODI.

#2 Bangladesh’s successive ODI wins vs India in Dhaka, 2015-

In the first ODI between Bangladesh and India in 2015 in Dhaka in 2015, two fifties from Tamim and Soumya Sarkar saw them getting bundled out for 307 runs. In what was expected to be an easy chase for the blue brigade, the tourists fell like a pack of cards and lost the game by 79 runs. Mustafizur Rahman’s 5/50 stood at the top.

The same debutant left-arm pacer continued to trouble India even in the second contest, getting the win in the 200-run chase by six wickets. Mustafizur’s 6/43 bundled out India for 200, as they collapsed from being 174/5.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh 200/4 (Shakib Al Hasan 51*, R Ashwin 1/32) beat India 200 (S Dhawan 53, Mustafizur Rahman 6/43) by 6 wickets in 2nd ODI.

#1 Bangladesh’s 5-wicket win vs India in Trinidad, ODI WC 2007-

It was the ODI World Cup 2007 clash between India and Bangladesh at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, and Mohammad Rafique bundled out a star-studded Indian side for just 191 runs in 49.3 overs. Only Sourav Ganguly got a fifty in the line-up.

Bangladesh, in reply, completed the chase with five wickets in hand. All three, Tamim, Shakib, and Mushfiqur Rahim, recorded their respective half-centuries to get over the line against a clinical Indian side, who sat in the dressing room with frustration.

Brief Scores: Bangladesh 192/5 (Mushfiqur Rahim 56*, Virender Sehwag 2/17) beat India 191 (Sourav Ganguly 66, Mashrafe Mortaza 4/38) by 5 wickets.