In the 2000s, the mighty Aussies proved their dominance in the world of cricket by lifting the ODI World Cup on three consecutive occasions

At present, India is considered a dominant force in world cricket, thanks to the team’s recent success in ICC tournaments. However, if we compare the present Indian side to the Australian sides in the late 80s, followed by the entire 90s and 2000s, is India truly a dominant side? The answer is no.

Australia’s dominance was such that the team began winning the World Cup in 1987, followed by three consecutive World Cup titles in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Despite India's rise through the ranks, Australia continued to dominate. In an era when Australia lost its dominant badge, the team still lifted the World Cup in 2015 and 2023.

And that is how dominance looks.

One of the crucial moments from Australia’s dominant era happened on this day in 2007 – on April 28, the team defeated Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup final at the Kennington Oval in Barbados, completing a hattrick of ODI World Cups, an achievement that has not been achieved by any other nation and is unlikely to be equalled or surpassed.

The Gilchrist show

The other 149 is of course his blistering innings in the 2007 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, which ensured Australia's hat-trick of ODI World Cups. Gilchrist had chalked up decent scores in Australia's run to the final but his two innings before the final were 1 & 1.

Gilly… pic.twitter.com/RSJ01MyGdi

— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) November 14, 2024

Batting first, Australia's Adam Gilchrist took control of the game's tempo from the start, building an innings that saw him score 149 runs in 104 balls at a strike rate of 143.26, toying with the likes of Vaas, Malinga, and Muralidaran. On the other end of the crease, Matthew Hayden added 38 runs, whereas Ricky Ponting made 37 and Andrew Symonds remained not out at 23, helping Australia post a defendable target of 281 runs on the board.

It must be noted that 281 runs were scored in merely 38 overs, given that rain had interrupted the match and, therefore, the game duration was reduced.

2007 WC : Worst World Cup EVER 👎
The Pitch-Black Farce: How the 2007 World Cup Ended in Total Darkness" 🌑

The "bad light drama" at the 2007 ODI World Cup Final is considered one of the most embarrassing moments in cricket officiating history.
✋ Sri Lanka concedes
🎉 Australia… pic.twitter.com/qz1XbtALnd

— AkCricTalks🎤🇮🇳 (@AKCricTalks) March 25, 2026

One partnership worth recalling

During Sri Lanka’s chase, their overs were reduced to 36, and the target was adjusted to 269 runs via the D/L method. However, only Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara fought back with their bats, scoring 63 and 54 runs, respectively.

The rest of the Lankan batting line-up faltered, with nine players scoring fewer than 20 runs and failing to chase the target. In 36 overs after losing eight wickets and slogging throughout the innings, Sri Lanka managed only 215 runs on the board and lost the game by 53 runs.

Perfect for Ponting & co.

🏆🏆🏆

Australia completed the ODI World Cup 3-peat in 2007 #OTD

What's your lasting memory from the final? pic.twitter.com/cj9vwS20mG

— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) April 28, 2023

In all three consecutive World Cup finals, Australia beat three Asian giants with a significant margin and scripted history that will forever remain etched in cricket’s record books.

Throughout the tournament, the Aussies won all 11 matches and maintained a perfect record, because of which Ricky Ponting, in the post-match interview, said, “We've dominated this tournament like no team has dominated a tournament before. We've never really been tested.”