The sinful seven: Top seven of India’s worst losses in 2017

To call 2017 a fruitful year for Indian cricket would be an understatement. It was a year that was filled with home series and India milked it to the full. It started off with a change of guard at the helm, with MS Dhoni deciding to step down and give the reigns entirely to Virat Kohli. Kohli had gained enough experience of leading the Test side since 2014. That, alongwith the presence of Dhoni in the team has made the transition almost seamless. Australia, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, it didn't matter who the opposition were, India dominated them across the three formats. But a year without defeats is impossible and India have had to deal with a few. Some of them were consolations to the opposition while others gave them hope to seal an unlikely series win. Most of them were just light at a false end of the tunnel that turned out to be a train that ran them over. Let's take a look at seven of India's 12 defeats in 2017. (Source: AP)

7. India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI: It didn't look like India would make it beyond 50 at one point. Dharamsala's green top sent the Indian batting line up into a tizzy and they were 29/7 at one point. If it wasn't for MS Dh0ni, India would indeed not have crossed three-figures. India ended up being all out for 112. Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Mathews saw Sri Lanka over the finish line. (Source: AP)

6. India vs England 1st T20: If the entire series was one football match and wins were goals, this one would be against run of play in every way possible. England were bamboozled in the preceding Test and ODI series. But they finally got a lead in a series with this win here. IT didn't matter, though, as India went on to win the rest of the two matches. (Source: Reuters)

5. India vs Sri Lanka, ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Sri Lankan cricket has been on a steady decline for some time now and India came into this match after giving Pakistan a sound thrashing. Considering these factors, it remains a mystery as to how it is that this result came into being. India set a target of 322 courtesy a century from Shikhar Dhawan. But Sri Lanka's top order chipped in equal measure before skipper Angelo Mathews took them over the line. Sri Lanka made 322 for the loss of 3 wickets with eight balls to spare. It is the highest succesfull run chase in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy. This was followed by Sri Lanka being thrashed by India 10-0 across formats at home. (Source: AP)

4. West Indies vs India 4th ODI: It was a series in which India were leading 2-0. West Indies had set a target of 190 for India to chase off 50 overs. The visitors were all out for 178. It was a match which looked like India's until the start of the last over. It ended up being a welcome reprieve for West Indies in what was another horrendous series for them.

3. West Indies vs India T20I: While West Indies have been in freefall in Tests and ODIs, they remain a side to beat in the shortest format of the game. India set a target of 191 for West Indies to win. Evin Lewis and Chris Gayle came out to open the innings. Gayle did not make much of an impact it didn't matter. Marlon Samuels came at no. 3 and he only had to stand and watch as Lewis went about wreaking havoc among the Indian ranks. West Indies won that match by nine wickets with nine balls to spare. (Source: AP)

2. India vs Australia. 1st Test: Steve O'Keefe is not the first name that comes to the mind when one thinks of the most dangerous left arm spinners in the world. But he played the role against India in Pune as Australia ran away to a stunning 333-run win. Was this the end of India's run? Have they been found out? None of the above, as it turned out. India won the next match, Australia somehow managed a thrilling draw in the third and the hosts sealed the deal in the fourth.

1. India vs Pakistan, ICC Champions Trophy final: It looked like a pointless tournament and India seemed to be strolling towards an all too predictable win. Australia were knocked out by the rains while England were surprisingly knocked out by Pakistan in the semi-finals. India, before this had one surprise in the tournament and that was their loss to Sri Lanka. Pakistan did rally to reach the final in the end, which in itself was a surprising result and so, no one though that this was going to be a stroll in the park. But instead, what Pakistan did to India was something either side, or anyone who follows any form of cricket, would not have imagined in their wildest, rashest, most incredibly ridiculous of dreams. They scored 338/4 largely due to a brilliant century from Fakhar Zaman. But Pakistan are known for their bowling and that is what came in handy. Mohammad Amir blew away the mighty Indian top order and the rest fell like a house of cards. But it is also a testimony to India's dominance that this loss didn't seem to matter in the larger scheme of things. There were no reactive wholesale changes to the squad. It was a one-off freak of a match and certainly the biggest upset of the calendar year. (Source: Reuters)