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The horrors of the 2003 ODI World Cup final continue to haunt millions of Indian fans to this day. Australia thrashed India by 125 runs in a lop-sided final to win the 2003 ODI World Cup, clinching their second title in a row. The 2003 ODI World Cup was the eighth edition of the tournament, which was played from February 09 to March 23 and was co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
The 2003 ODI World Cup featured 14 teams, the most in any edition of the tournament at the time and consisted of a total of 54 matches. The tournament witnessed multiple upsets as the likes of England, South Africa, Pakistan and West Indies were all eliminated from the group stage. Meanwhile, Kenya became the first non-Test nation to make it to the semi-finals of an ODI World Cup.
Australia were part of Pool A in the tournament alongside the likes of India, Pakistan, England and Zimbabwe. Australia topped the group by winning all six of their matches in the group stage, while India finished 2nd with 20 points from 6 matches. Dark horses Zimbabwe pipped Pakistan and England to finish 3rd with 14 points after winning three of their six matches in the group stage.
Australia started the tournament with a huge 82-run win against Pakistan before thrashing India by 9 wickets in their second game of the tournament. Australia defeated Zimbabwe, Namibia and Netherlands in their next three matches to continue their winning streak before beating England by 2 wickets in their final group-stage match to top Pool A and qualify for the Super Sixes.
Ricky Ponting's Australia remained a dominant force in the Super Sixes stage of the tournament as they continued their unbeaten streak with three wins in three matches against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Kenya. Australia thrashed Sri Lanka by 48 runs in the first semi-final to book a spot in the final against India.
Sourav Ganguly-led India reached an ODI World Cup final for the first time in 20 years after Kapil Dev & Co. won the maiden title in the 1983 World Cup. However, it turned out to be a nightmare of a final for India as Australia steamrolled them in a lop-sided encounter to clinch their second World Cup title in a row. The Aussies rode on Ricky Ponting's 140 and Damien Martyn's 88 to beat India by 125 runs in the final.
Put in to bat first by India in the final, Australia got off to a strong start courtesy of openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, who added a 105-run stand for the first wicket. Gilchrist scored a 57 off 48 balls laced with 8 fours and 1 six while Hayden scored 37 off 54 balls. After the duo's departure, Ponting and Martyn joined hands to ensure Australia continued the momentum after their impressive start.
Ponting smashed an unbeaten 140 off 121 balls studded with 8 sixes and 4 fours while Martyn scored 88 off 84 balls laced with 7 fours and a solitary six to add an unbeaten stand of 234 runs for the 3rd wicket and power Australia to a huge total of 359/2 in 50 overs. The duo took the Indian bowlers to the cleaners, bashing them across all parts of the ground en route to their partnership.
Australia then produced a dominant display with the ball to skittle out India for 234 runs in their run chase and wrap up a huge 125-run victory. Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee combined to run riot as they ran through India's top order with 5 wickets between them. Virender Sehwag top-scored with a valiant 82, but his knock went in vain as Australia romped to a sensational victory.
