Top 10 most thrilling Cricket matches played by the Indian Cricket Team

By: Vision11 | June 19, 2025 | Leave a Comment

There’s something magical when India goes toe-to-toe in high-stakes matches. Each game imprints itself in our hearts. Not just for scores, but for the energy, surprise, and sheer human grit on display. This blog doesn’t start with a list—first, let me share how these ten games changed what we expect from Indian cricket.
Imagine being at Eden Gardens, seeing India come back from almost nothing to seal a victory against a seemingly unbeatable side. Picture the calm of MS Dhoni under pressure in Mumbai, or the roar of the crowd as two underdogs turn the tables in England. These aren’t just wins; they’ve moments when our beliefs in what’s possible opened up. Every one of these ten matches has that power.

1. Eden Gardens, 2001 vs Australia

India was asked to follow on, trailing by 274 runs. After being bowled out for 171 in their first innings (in reply to Australia’s 445), the match seemed lost. But VVS Laxman (281) and Rahul Dravid (180) batted for nearly two full days, adding a staggering 376-run partnership in the second innings. India declared at 657/7, setting Australia a target of 384. Harbhajan Singh spun a web no one could escape, claiming a jaw-dropping hat-trick early on and snatching six wickets in the last innings to crush all resistance. Australia collapsed for only 212 runs, paving the way for India’s commanding 171-run triumph. This ended Australia’s 16-match winning streak in Tests and marked a turning point in India’s cricketing belief.

Why it thrilled us:

They called it the “Earthquake Partnership” — a fearless stand by Laxman and Dravid that shook Warne, McGrath, and Gillespie to their core.
Spinners sealing the deal: Harbhajan’s 13-wicket haul (including the first-ever Test hat-trick by an Indian).
Global shift: Proved India could dominate the era’s best team.

2. World Cup Final, 2011 vs Sri Lanka

India needed to chase 274 to win the World Cup after 28 years. A shaky start wasn’t disastrous thanks to Gautam Gambhir’s 97 and MS Dhoni’s final strike of 91*. His six sealed the title in front of 33,000 at Wankhade Stadium. Joy exploded across India.

Key Details:

The pressure of a 28-year drought
Calm, captaincy, clutch hitting
The final six is forever etched in memory

3. NatWest Final, 2002 vs England

At Lord’s, England posted 325. India slumped early before Yuvraj Singh and Kaif turned the game. With just three balls to go, India sealed the win—then came the moment that lit up history: Sourav Ganguly flung off his shirt in a burst of wild joy, a fearless roar of emotion and pride that echoed across the cricketing world.

What sets it apart:

Massive chasing target
An iconic celebration that said, “We’re here.”
Youth from Yuvraj and Kaif are under intense pressure

4. Champions Trophy Final, 2013 vs England

A rainy Edgbaston. With the game reduced to 20 overs per side, India managed a modest total of 129. England appeared to surge, but Ishant Sharma two wicket in two balls to break their momentum. India held tight and won by five runs. Ravindra Jadeja starred with bat and ball.

Thrill factors:

Rain-shortened, dramatic twist
Unexpected spin of Ishant
Caps off MS Dhoni’s ICC trophy haul

5. India vs Bangladesh – T20 World Cup 2016

Chasing 147, Bangladesh needed just 2 runs from 3 balls. Then came a jaw-dropping turnaround—three wickets fell in as many deliveries, sparked by Hardik Pandya’s pinpoint bowling and MS Dhoni’s lightning-fast run-out. India edged the contest by a solitary run, sealing one of the most astonishing finishes in T20 history.

Why it’s unforgettable:

Bangladesh is in full control till the last 3 balls
Pandya’s clutch over
Dhoni’s sprint-run-out under pressure

6. Mohali Semi-final, 2011 vs Pakistan

An electrifying atmosphere—ticket rush, public holiday—set the stage. Sachin’s 85 built the platform, then Zaheer, Nehra, and Munaf’s bowling stopped Pakistan at 231. India sealed a 29-run victory, booking their spot in the final, where they went all the way to claim the championship crown.

Energy boosters:

Raw crowd power
Iconic Sachin knock
Bowler sealing high-pressure chase

7. ODI in Karachi, 2004 vs Pakistan

India posted 349 chasing a high score. Pakistan nearly pulled off a record chase led by Inzamam, but India won by 5 runs. That edge-of-your-seat tension makes this match legendary.

Standout moments:

Both teams crossed 300 in 2004—rare then
Chase is swinging back and forth
The final over’s defining moment

8. India vs Australia — Gabba Test, 2021

India entered Brisbane with a team of backups, rather than big names. On the final day, chasing 328, Shubman Gill sparked the charge, Pujara stood tall through bruises and blows, and Rishabh Pant delivered the final punch with an unbeaten 89. The result? Australia’s 32-year unbeaten run at the Gabba was shattered—and a new chapter in Indian cricket was born.

What made it legendary:

Full-strength Australia beaten
The highest successful chase at the Gabba
Pant’s fearless finish

9. T20 World Cup 2022 vs Pakistan (MCG)

A high-voltage T20 World Cup showdown lit up the Melbourne Cricket Ground as arch-rivals India and Pakistan collided under the lights in a clash etched in cricketing folklore. Pakistan set 159: India lost early wickets. Virat Kohli’s 82* saved the chase. Consecutive sixes, tension, and a final over boundary clinched it.

Memorable points:

Kohli’s chase from the early collapse
Massive media and audience attention
Elastic pressure cooker atmosphere

10. IPL Final, 2017 Hyderabad

Mumbai posted just 129 in the final. Krunal Pandya’s 47 was crucial. Pune kept the pressure alive right up to the final over, with 11 needed off the last six. Mitchell Johnson held his nerve, and a last-ball dismissal sealed Mumbai’s victory by just 1 run in what remains the tightest finish in IPL final history.

Why it stood out:

Low score, sky-high tension
Final-ball finish
IPL title decided by one run

The Common Threads Among the Thrillers

Pressure: Every match came when stakes were high—World Cups, finals, must-wins.
Unlikely Heroes: Yuvraj, Ishant, Krunal—all proved under pressure.
Comebacks: India rarely led; each win emerged from tough situations.
Teamwork: Batters and bowlers shared credit—few players could win these alone.

Final Thoughts

These ten matches share more than close finishes. They shine because of attitude—India refuses to lose, regardless of the format or pace of the game. A Test where follow-ons were erased, a 2011 final ending with a calm six, and even a tense IPL final with just one run in it.
They teach us: never count us out. They gave us legends to remember—Laxman, Dhoni, Kohli—and moments we talk about years later with the same excitement. Trivia won’t capture these; you had to experience that roar, that silence, that tension until the very last tick of the “Earthquake Partnership”: Laxman and Dravid’s defiance against Warne, McGrath, and Gillespie’s scoreboard.