An incredible double century to Rohit Sharma helped set an enormous target of 384 in the series-deciding one-day clash on Saturday, to add insult to a hamstring injury suffered by Australia’s Shane Watson.
Watson left the field for treatment on his hamstring after pulling up during his delivery stride to begin his sixth over.
It puts his Ashes campaign in serious doubt and India won’t have helped the mood in the Australian camp by smashing 6-383 in the seventh and final ODI of their series in Bangalore.
Rohit Sharma led the way with a staggering 209, the second-highest individual score of all-time.
Sharma’s incredible 158-ball innings included one 26-run over from Xavier Doherty and blew away Andrew Stauss’s 158 for the highest individual score at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
India’s total also smashes Australia’s 2-347 in 2003 as the biggest team total at the ground.
Ireland achieved the highest successful chase of 7-329 against England at the 2011 World Cup.
Sharma put on 112 for the opening wicket with Shikhar Dhawan (60) – their third century stand of the series – after being sent in to bat by Australian skipper George Bailey.
The entertaining partnership was broken by Xavier Doherty, who trapped Dhawan lbw in the second over after a brief rain delay.
India’s frustrations were compounded soon after when the explosive Virat Kohli was run out for a duck.
Kohli was left fuming after he was sent back for a single by Sharma – who had initially set off for the run himself.
Fast-bowling allrounder Nathan Coulter-Nile, taking his place in the side for the rested Mitchell Johnson, collected the ball at mid-on and sent it back to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to complete the runout.
Entering the match wicketless for the series, Doherty enjoyed his best game on tour – finishing with two important wickets, including an lbw of Suresh Raina (28).
India rebuilt through Sharma, who smashed 16 sixes and 12 fours, and put on 78 with Raina and 167 with skipper MS Dhoni (62).
Australia’s task will be made all the more difficult without Watson, who roared to form with the bat with a destructive century in Nagpur on Wednesday.
Australia did superbly to limit the damage during the second powerplay, conceding just 22 runs in the five over period.
But two butter-fingered outfield efforts hurt dearly in the final overs.
Sharma was given a life by substitute fielder Moises Henriques, who let a simple boundary catch slip through his fingers for a six when the strokeplaying right-hander was on 120.
Then Dhoni was dropped by the usually sure-handed Glenn Maxwell when on 29.
Sharma made the Australians pay to the tune of 89 runs and Dhoni added 33 after his life, including a six which exited the stadium, as India piled on 151 runs in the final ten overs.
