India vs Australia: Top 3 run-scorers in ODI World Cups

Australia and India have been two of the most successful ODI teams over the years. The two teams have met each other a lot of times in the ODI World Cup, the biggest cricket tournament. The rivalry between the two teams at the biggest stage dates back to 1983, when India won its first ever ODI World Cup. Since then, India and Australia have faced each other 12 times in the tournament.

In 1983 and 1987, the two teams faced each other twice and won a game each. But from 1992 to 2007, Australia won all the faceoffs between the two teams. From 2011 to 2019, India has won two out of the last three clashes. Australia enjoyed a better head-to-head record against India in the big tournament. One of the main reasons behind their success is the batters, who contributed well to their success. 

Likewise, India is known to be a den of exceptional batters. The cricket crazy nation has produced some of the best batters in the world. It is nothing different in Australia. So, here are the top 3 run getters in the ODI World Cup games between India and Australia over the years –

1. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting is considered one of the greatest batters in the history of ODIs. Particularly in the ODI World Cup, the former Australian batter played some of the most memorable knocks. One of them came against India in the 2003 World Cup final, which is still a bad memory for the Indian fans. On the big day, the former Australian number 3 smashed an unbeaten 140*(121), which included 4 fours and 8 massive sixes. 

In the 2011 World Cup quarterfinal, Ponting scored his last World Cup hundred, which was also his last appearance in the World Cup, against India. The former Australian great scored 104(118) in Ahmedabad. Ponting is the highest run scorer in ODI World Cup matches between India and Australia. The fantastic batter scored 303 runs against India. 

2. Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh is considered one of the greatest openers in ODI cricket. The former Australian batter was one of the best batters in the One Day Internationals in the 1990s. In the same period, Waugh had a great ODI World Cup in 1996, where he was the second highest run scorer of the tournament, playing in the spin-friendly subcontinent conditions, something alien to him. 

In the match against India, Waugh scored a fabulous ton in Mumbai and impressed everyone with his technique against spin. In 135 balls, Waugh scored 126 runs and helped Australia to win the match by 16 runs. The former Australian great has the second most runs in the matches between Australia and India in the ODI World Cups. The great batter scored 209 runs against India.

3. Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is regarded as arguably the best batter in ODIs. Only few batters like Viv Richards, Virat Kohli, and AB De Villiers are considered as equivalents to the master blaster in the One Day Internationals. The former Indian batter has the third most runs in the ODI World Cup matches between India and Australia, the most from an Indian batter. 

In the matches against Australia, Tendulkar scored 194 runs in the ODI World Cup. The best performance of the legendary batter came in the 1996 ODI World Cup match in Mumbai, interestingly the same match in which Waugh scored 126. Chasing 259, India was in the chase as long as Sachin stayed in the middle. The fabulous batter scored 90 runs in 84 balls, which included 14 fours and a six.