Cricket, more than any other sport, produces upsets that defy logic. A team that should have no chance winning against the world's best — then doing exactly that. Here are the shocks that still make cricket fans shake their heads.
Chasing 328 at the World Cup, Ireland won with 5 balls to spare. Kevin O'Brien scored the fastest World Cup century (50 balls) to demolish England. It was embarrassing for England and euphoric for Associate cricket.
Australia were the 1982 runners-up. Zimbabwe had barely any international experience. Duncan Fletcher (yes, the future England coach) scored 69* and took 4 wickets to pull off one of cricket's first great upsets.
Bangladesh beating Australia in an ODI for the first time. In England. At the time, Bangladesh were considered minnows. Australia were the dominant force in world cricket. The result sent shockwaves through the sport.
Afghanistan beating established teams has become almost normal now, but their early wins against Zimbabwe, Scotland, and even West Indies were seismic for a country that was playing international cricket for barely a decade.
India's victory at the Gabba in 2021 with a depleted squad — missing Kohli, Bumrah, Shami, and Ashwin — is the greatest upset in Test history. A young Indian team breached Australia's Gabba fortress, where they hadn't lost in 32 years. Rishabh Pant's 89* in the chase was the stuff of legends.
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