Australia has won the ODI series against India 2-0, with the third and final ODI set to be played on Wednesday. India faces the danger of 0-3 whitewash. Steve Smith has been the outstanding batsman from Australia, cracking two straight tons – 104 and 105 - in the two ODIs. In his last ODI against India in Bengaluru in January 2020, he has also cracked a ton (131) – and thus becoming the fourth player to score three straight tons against India in ODIs.
Here are the three other players to have scored 3 consecutive ODI tons against India.
1) Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan)
The Pakistan legend was the first player to struck three straight tons against India in ODIs. During the 1982-83 series, Abbas cracked three consecutive tons – 118 at Multan, 105 at Lahore, and 113 at Karachi – against India to help Pakistan win the ODI series 3-1. In the fourth ODI, Abbas punished the Indian bowling attack to score 113 off 99 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes to help Pakistan chase down a target of 198 with ease, and walk into the record books with 3 straight tons against India in ODIs.
2) Nasir Jamshed (Pakistan)
The Pakistan left-handed opening batsman struck his only 3 ODI tons against India, and that too in a row. The run started when Jamshed cracked 112 against India in the 2012 Asia Cup to help Pakistan post a big total of 329/6. But his knock ended on a losing cause as Virat Kohli cracked his highest ODI score of 183 to steer India home.
When Pakistan toured India later that year, Jamshed came to the party, cracking 101 not out, and 106 in the first 2 ODIs to help his team take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan lost the third ODI by 10 runs but bagged the series 2-1. Jamshed was named man of the series.
For the record, Jamshed averages 102 against India in ODIs with 3 tons and 1 fifty in 6 matches.
3) Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
South African keeper-opener Quinton de Kock made merry against the Indian bowling attack during the ODI series at home in 2013. He scored three straight tons to help South Africa win the ODI series 2-0, with the third match being washed out. De Kock scored 135 at Johannesburg, 106 at Durban, and 101 at Centurion to thrash the Indian bowling attack in the series.
De Kock still fancies the Indian bowling attack, managing 2 more ODI tons. Overall, he has scored 5 tons against India in just 13 ODIs and averages 60.30 against the Men in Blue.
Cover image courtesy: Cricketworld.com
