The first One-Day International (ODI) match was played between Australia and England in 1971 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), as a 40-over match. Needless to say that all 11 players from each side were playing their debut ODI game. Unlike modern times, it was an eight-ball per over competition. The hosts managed to win the contest by five wickets.
However, when it comes to the first tied game, then it came years later on February 11 in 1984. Incidentally, this contest was also held at the iconic MCG. It was the second Final of Benson & Hedges World Series Cup played between Australia and West Indies.
Since then, there have been 37 occasions when an ODI game has met a similar fate. West Indies have been involved in as many as 10 tied games, which is the maximum for any team. When it comes to India, then there have been 9 such matches when the opponents ended up equalling the score.
The first instance happened at the WACA in Perth during the Benson & Hedges World Tri-Series on December 06 in 1991. India, under the leadership of young skipper Mohammad Azharuddin were facing mighty West Indies.
The Caribbean side elected to field first and dominated in the game as they bundled out Indian team for just 126. Opener Ravi Shastri with 33 was the highest scorer. For the Windies, Curtly Ambrose bowled exceptionally well. In his 8.4 overs, the speedster with the economy of 1.03 just gave 9 runs and picked up two wickets.
But when the West Indies team under the captaincy of Sir Richie Richardson came to bat, they didn’t anticipate the outcome at all. Indian seamers and swing bowlers ripped apart the Windies side and restricted them at the same score. Pacer Javagal Srinath took two wickets off 27 in 10 overs. The veteran duo of Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar also shimmered and picked two, and one scalp each.
The seventh match of CAB Jubilee Tournament (Hero Cup) at Indore in November 1993 saw the second tied game of Team India. It was a contest against Zimbabwe which had players like Alistair Campbell, Heath Streak, and of course the Flower brothers.
India made 248-5 in the 50 overs, thanks to crucial innings by Prabhakar (91), Vinod Kambli (55), and captain Azharuddin (54). In reply, Zimbabwe equalled the score with Andy Flower scoring the maximum 56 runs for his side. Prabhakar, who shined with the bat, impressed with the ball as well. He picked two wickets and was rewarded as the ‘Player of the match’.
Four years later, India and Zimbabwe yet again witnessed a tied game. It was a Standard Bank International One-Day tri-series match played at Paarl in January 1997. The Campbell-led side posted 236-8 after electing to bat first.
In response, India had a terrible start as they lost three wickets for just 40. But then the lower middle order contributed and thanks to the fighting knock of Robin Singh (48 from 31 balls), the Sachin Tendulkar-led team was able to tie the game.
The fourth tied game involving the Indian team came way late during the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011. India were facing England at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Under the magical captaincy of MS Dhoni, India elected to bat first and posted a humongous 338 on the board, with Tendulkar again rising to the occasion as he slammed a marvellous century (120).
In reply, England’s skipper Andrew Strauss led his side from the front and scored a brilliant hundred. He contributed 158 off 145 balls and helped the English team to level up the scores.
A few months later, in the same year, both the teams yet again saw the contest getting tied. It was the fourth ODI of India’s tour of England at the home of cricket, Lords Stadium. India after put into bat first, posted 280-5, thanks to Suresh Raina’s outstanding innings of 84 from 75 balls and MS Dhoni with 78 off 71 balls.
However, due to the DLS method, England got the target of 271, and in 48.5 overs the home team reached 270, and the match was tied. For the hosts, Ravi Bopara played an unbelievable knock of 96 which was well assisted by Ian Bell, who made 54.
Next year, India faced Sri Lanka in the fifth match of the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series held at Adelaide. The Lankans posted 236-9 in 50 overs. In reply, India equalled the score, thanks to opener Gautam Gambhir (91) and skipper Dhoni (58).
During India’s tour of New Zealand in 2014, the ‘Men in Blue’ again witnessed a tied match at Eden Park in Auckland. It was a third ODI game where the Kiwis posted 314-9 in 50 overs. Opener Martin Guptill amazed the spectators with a brilliant century (111).
In response, India struggled as the top order didn’t contribute as much. However, the lower order in the form of skipper Dhoni (50), Ravichandran Ashwin (65), and Ravindra Jadeja (66) made sure their side wouldn’t lose the match.
The eighth tied game for Team India came against Afghanistan during the fifth game of the Asia Cup at Dubai. Both sides scored 252. For Afghanistan, opener Mohammad Shahzad scored a fantastic century (124). For India, KL Rahul and Ambati Rayudu with their 60 and 57, respectively helped the side to level the scores.
Similarly, the ninth tied game for Indian team came last year when West Indies toured India. It was the second game played at Visakhapatnam, where Indian captain Virat Kohli took Windies bowlers to the cleaners as he smashed a fantabulous 129-ball 157 knock. Rayudu also contributed with a well made 73, which helped the hosts to post 321-7.
In reply, the Caribbean side showed guts and levelled the colossal total. Shai Hope with a vital century (123) and Shimron Hetmyer who missed out his hundred from just six runs, helped their team to tie the game.
