Top 5 Biggest Upsets in Indian Cricket History

Image Source: Getty Images

In the 2017 Champions Trophy final, Virat Kohli’s men were heavily favored to defend their title against their biggest rivals. Instead, Pakistan completely flipped the script by racking up a massive 338/4. India's world-class top order, featuring Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and Kohli, crumbled immediately against a hostile opening spell from Mohammad Amir.

The batting unit collapsed entirely, getting bundled out for a meager 158 runs. This historic disaster marked the first time Pakistan defeated India in a major ICC tournament final.

Also Read | Top 6 Biggest Upsets in Men’s T20 World Cup History

Zimbabwe (T20I Series 2024)

Image Source: Associated Press

Right after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and witnessing Rohit Sharma's retirement, a young Indian squad traveled to Harare under Shubman Gill's captaincy. In the opening T20I, Zimbabwe pulled off an incredible shocker. 

They managed 155/9 on a sluggish pitch, but their bowlers, led by Tendai Chatara and Sikandar Raza, choked the visitors. The middle order caved in for single digits, and with no batsman reaching a fifty, India folded for 102 to lose by 13 runs.

Ireland (T20I Series 2026)

Image Source: Getty Images

Following another T20 World Cup triumph in 2026, Shreyas Iyer took over as the new format captain. Facing Ireland in the opener, India held a flawless 8-0 head-to-head record and looked set to dominate. However, Irish skipper Lorcan Tucker smashed a fine half-century to power his team to 182/9.

India’s chase derailed rapidly after Abhishek Sharma's early exit. A massive batting collapse followed, leaving the visitors bundled out for 148 to hand Ireland a historic 34-run victory.

Bangladesh (2007 ICC Cricket World Cup)

Image Source: AFP

India were considered as the heavy favorites to win the tournament in 2007 with their star-studded team including legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, and MS Dhoni led by Rahul Dravid.

On the contrary, India faced one of the most embarrassing moments in their World Cup history. Bangladesh thrashed the big names in the first match itself. Their subsequent defeat against Sri Lanka saw them being eliminated from the tournament in the first round itself.

Zimbabwe (1999 ICC Cricket World Cup)

Image Source: Getty Images

India started out on high hopes at this ICC cricket World Cup held in England but were in for an early shock. The absence of Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar due to his father's death, India lost to an equally determined Zimbabwe.

The African nation posted 252/9. India fought back hard in a tense, close-fought chase but fell agonizingly short, getting bowled out for 249 to lose by three runs. This remains a deeply depressing World Cup memory.

Also Read | Most Shocking Upsets in IPL Playoffs

Conclusion

However, despite the fact that such heavy defeats against top-ranked teams are very demoralizing for the national team, they can be crucial for awakening of the entire system. Devastating losses force selectors to think outside the box and explore the depth of domestic competitions.

That’s when it becomes obvious how big of an influence these uncapped players exert on the league. Talents that perform well at domestic level will give the bold spirit necessary for building a new national team. These shocking events guarantee that there will always be enough players to secure the dominance in the future.