5 Times India Lost an ODI Series Despite Winning the Opening Match

The saying **“Well begun is half done” doesn’t always hold true in cricket. Even if a team starts a series on a winning note, complacency or poor performances in subsequent games can lead to setbacks. Over the years, the Indian Cricket Team** has bounced back after losing openers, but there have also been occasions where early victories failed to translate into series wins.

In the last two decades, there have been five instances when India won the opening ODI but lost the series overall. These examples highlight that an early advantage is no guarantee of ultimate success, reminding teams that consistency and focus across all matches are crucial.

Below are five instances when India lost an ODI series after winning the first game.

5 Instances When India Lost an ODI Series After Winning the Opener

Even a winning start doesn’t always guarantee series success. Over the last two decades, India has faced five occasions where they won the opening ODI but failed to clinch the series. Here’s a look at those instances:

5. West Indies vs India: 4–1 (July 2006) Under Rahul Dravid, India won the first ODI in West Indies with a century from Dravid. However, Brian Lara’s side bounced back to win the next four ODIs. Ramnaresh Sarwan (273) and Chris Gayle (260) led the hosts’ batting, handing India a shocking 4–1 defeat.

4. England vs India: 2–1 (July 2018) India won the opening ODI chasing 269 easily. But Joe Root’s centuries in the next two games powered England to back-to-back wins, sealing the series 2–1. Root was named Player of the Series.

3. India vs Australia: 3–2 (March 2019) India started strong with two wins in the five-match series. Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja led Australia’s stunning comeback with three consecutive victories, including two centuries from Khawaja, snatching the series from India.

2. India vs Australia: 2–1 (March 2023) India won the first ODI under **Hardik Pandya, but Australia bounced back with a 10-wicket win in the second. In the decider, Adam Zampa’s 4-wicket haul** bowled India out for 248, giving Australia the series 2–1.

1. India vs New Zealand: 2–1 (January 2026) India won the first ODI with Virat Kohli’s 93, but Daryl Mitchell’s back-to-back centuries in the next two games helped New Zealand clinch their first-ever ODI series win in India, defeating the hosts 2–1 despite missing captain Mitchell Santner.

These series highlight that a strong start alone doesn’t guarantee victory, emphasizing the need for consistency throughout a campaign.