Five matches that India could have won but found a way to lose

Winning and losing is part of the game. However, fans don't digest losses easily and they want their team to win every game. The fans can come to terms with the games they knew their team might lose or those which could have gone either way. However, it is difficult to come to terms with losing those games which could have been won easily.

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Also, not to forget, these kinds of games impact the players psychologically as well. India might have lost a lot of games like this. However, we have churned out five of those to which our readers can relate. Some fans might have a memory of what they went through after these games. In this listicle, we will discuss those five games which India could have won but ended up losing.

Five games that India could have won

India vs Sri Lanka 1996 (Image Credit : Twitter)

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1. IND vs SL, 1996 World Cup Semifinal

This game is infamous for being abandoned after Indian fans started burning posters in the stands. Chasing a target of 252 runs, the Men In Blue were 98/1 and cruising. Sachin Tendulkar got out and became a turning point of the game.

The team went from 98/1 to 120/8 in no time. After witnessing the collapse, the Indian fans could hold themselves and started burning things and rioting inside the stands. The match officials had to abandon the game and the Lankans were declared as winners. 

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India vs Bangladesh 2007 (Image Credit : Twitter)

2. India vs Bangladesh, 2007 ODI World Cup

India was slotted in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bermuda. Everybody felt that India and Sri Lanka would advance to the next stage. India's first game was against Bangladesh. The Men In Blue were firm favourites to win the game.

However, what transpired was something no Indian fan thought even in their wildest of dreams. After restricting Rahul Dravid's men to 191, the Green Brigade won the game after losing five wickets. This loss proved decisive for India as they crashed out in the first round of the tournament. 

Australia vs India 2014 (Image Credit : Twitter)

3. Australia vs India, 2014 Adelaide Test

This was the first Test where Virat Kohli led the side albeit as a stand-in skipper. India were asked to chase 364 runs in 98 on Day Five. At one stage, the visitors were at 242/2 in 69 overs with Murali Vijay and Kohli at the crease.

Vijay (99) was trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon and it turned out to be a turning point. From 242/2, the team got all-out on 315, losing the game by 48. Even though India lost the game, they were appreciated by former cricketers for looking to win the game rather than drawing. 

Sri Lanka vs India 2015 (Image Credit : Twitter)

4. Sri Lanka vs India

The visitors were dominating the game right from the start. After bowling the Lankans out for 183, Virat Kohli's men took a lead of 192 runs. However, the hosts fought back with 367 runs thanks to Dinesh Chandimal.

It wasn't enough India needed to chase only 176 runs with little less than two days left. However, they were bundled for 112, losing the game by 63 runs.

Virat Kohli, Joe Root (Image Credit : Twitter)

5. England vs India, Edgbaston 2022

The visitors were in the game even after having some hiccups along the way. While batting, the recovered from 98/5 and scored 416. In bowling, even after Jonny Bairstow's hundred, the team managed to get a big lead of 132 runs.

The Jasprit Bumrah's men set a target of 378 runs for the hosts. The Three Lions were 109/3 and looking set to lose the game. However, Joe Root and Bairstow made sure their team created history by chasing down the target with seven wickets in hand.