Biggest win by runs in ODI cricket: India only team with two 300-plus run victories

One Day Internationals or ODI is a limited-overs format in cricket, featuring two teams, who play a fixed number of overs, currently 50, in an innings. This format of the game, although a 20th-century development, has garnered keen interest globally, courtesy of its topsy-turvy nature.

While most ODIs are competitive, there have been multiple instances where one team has established their supremacy over the other. The Indian cricket team, New Zealand and Australia have recorded the biggest victory margins by runs in ODIs.

After a dominant performance at the Greenfield International Stadium against Sri Lanka in January 2023, India hold the record for the biggest win by runs in ODI cricket.

Team India features two more times in this top 10 list with exceptional performances against Bermuda and Hong Kong. South Africa, too, have three entries in the list, while Australia has two.

Let us take a look at the largest victory margin by runs in ODI cricket.

Biggest win by runs in ODI cricket

India - won by 317 runs vs Sri Lanka

Rohit Sharma won the toss against Sri Lanka at Thiruvananthapuram and elected to bat first. After Rohit was dismissed for 42, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli upped the ante, guiding India to a mammoth total. Kohli smashed his 10th century against Sri Lanka, while Gill scored his second ton as India amassed 390/5.

In the run chase, Mohammed Siraj derailed the island nation early on as the tourists failed to build any substantial partnerships. Siraj’s four-for and two wickets, each, from Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav restricted the visitors to only 73 runs. The 317-run victory is the only 300-plus winning margin in ODI cricket.

Australia - won by 309 runs vs the Netherlands

In match 24 of World Cup 2023, Australia put Netherlands to the sword in ruthless fashion. Having won the toss and opted to bat first against the Dutch, Australia went on to post a mammoth 399/8 courtesy of a 93-ball 104 by David Warner and a 44-ball 106 by Glenn Maxwell. Fifties by Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne also contributed to the huge total.

In reply, the Dutch were lost for answers as Australia's bowlers ran through them in clinical fashion. Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers with four scalps as the Netherlands could only manage to score 90 in the run chase, leading to a convincing 309-run win for the Aussies.

India - won by 302 runs vs Sri Lanka

India also beat Sri Lanka by a huge margin in the 2023 ODI World Cup when the two sides met in Match 33 of the tournament. After being asked to bat first, the Men in Blue went on to post a target of 357/8 with the help of fifties from Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer.

In reply, the Lankans could only manage 302 runs before being bundled out by a potent Indian bowling attack with Mohammed Shami as its wrecker-in-chief on this occasion having claimed 5/18 in what was a Player of the Match performance from him. His spell helped India beat Sri Lanka by a massive margin of 302 runs to book their berth in the semi-finals of the tournament. 

New Zealand - won by 290 runs vs Ireland

Meanwhile, the Black Caps, who beat Ireland by 290 runs, had previously held the record for the biggest margin of victory in ODIs for quite sometime. In July 2008 at Aberdeen, New Zealand were asked to bat first and smashed a gigantic score of 402/2. While James Marshall scored a 141-ball 161, Brendon McCullum stunned the Irish with 166 runs off 135 balls.

The Kiwi pace attack, led by Tim Southee, made light work of Ireland in the run chase. Southee and Michael Mason picked three wickets, each, as six batters failed to reach double digits. Ireland were bowled out for 112 in 28.4 overs, handing New Zealand an enormous victory. 

Australia - won by 275 runs vs Afghanistan

Australia, the record ICC Cricket World Cup winners, displayed their title credentials in fine fashion against Afghanistan in the group stage of the 2015 edition. Powered by a rampant 178 off 133 by David Warner, wherein he smashed 24 boundaries, the Aussies scored 417/6 at WACA in Perth.

Afghanistan’s lack of experience at the highest level affected them in the run chase. Mitchell Johnson ran through the top and middle order with his threatening pace, picking up four wickets, while two-fors from Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc helped bundle out the opponents for 142. A tremendous all-round performance sealed a 275-run success for the eventual champions.

Photo credits: Alamy