Games in the last decade and a half have started favouring the batters a lot more, with team totals having easily breached the 300 mark, sometimes even the 400 run mark. A combination of conditions like placid pitches, shorter boundaries, and better bats and power hitting has led to this tectonic shift in world cricket.
India has been no stranger to this shift, as ODI games in the sub-continent have seen a similar trend. Despite offering rank turners in Test cricket, the pitches offered in ODI and T20 cricket are completely different as the batters have made merry whenever playing in Indian conditions. Here’s a look at the top 5 highest ODI totals in India, by the home side or by other visiting sides
- 438/4 by South Africa vs India, 2015
In a bilateral series in 2015, South Africa arrived at the Wankhede Stadium for the final ODI in a murderous mood. The Indian bowlers were sent on a leather hunt as Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, and Ab de Villiers all scored hundreds. The latter in particular scored at a brisk rate, getting 119 off 61 balls as the Mumbai crowd cheered vigorously through his knock. In response, India were never in the chase as they were bundled out for 224 balls.
2. 428/5 by South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2023
The 2023 ODI World Cup was an absolute run-fest as 300 seemed to be the norm in most games. South Africa did one better with their extremely aggressive top six in a group game against Sri Lanka played on a placid Delhi surface. Three batters got centuries for South Africa – namely Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram. Klaasen and David Miller also contributed with cameos in the thirties. Sri Lanka gave it a spirited chase as Kusal Mendis scored a brisk 76 but they eventually were all out for 326.
3. 418/5 by India vs West Indies, 2011
On a hot afternoon in Indore, the West Indian bowlers were made to feel the heat even more as Virender Sehwag decided to unleash his wrath. He put on an opening stand of 176 with Gautam Gambhir and then carried on to score just the second double hundred by a batter in ODI cricket. Sehwag ended with 219 off just 149 balls as India finished with a whopping 418 runs. In reply, West Indies folded for 265 runs.
4. 414/7 by India vs Sri Lanka, 2009
In the winter of 2009, cricket fans were treated to an absolute run fest when India played Sri Lanka at Rajkot. Batting first, the hosts put on a massive 414 runs as the Sri Lankan bowlers got nothing out of the pitch. Sehwag top scored with 146 while Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni got fifties to help India get to that lofty mark. In response, Sri Lanka really troubled the hosts as Tillakaratne Dilshan top scored with 160 and they lost the game eventually by just 3 runs.
5. 410/4 by India vs Netherlands, 2023
The Chinnaswamy Stadium is one of the smallest grounds in India, and it is no surprise to see a game played at that venue being featured in this list. In the final group game of the 2023 World Cup, an unbeaten India took on the Netherlands. The hosts got quickfire fifties from Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli before Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul took charge to score clinical centuries. The Netherlands were all out for 250 in that game.
