Top 10 Times Rain Changed Cricket History

Cricket may be a game of skill, stats, and strategy, but nothing outsmarts Mother Nature. Over the decades, rain has unexpectedly interrupted legendary clashes, changing results, ruining moments, or even creating miracles. In tournaments, knockouts, and World Cup finals, rain changed cricket history in ways that fans will never forget.

Whether it’s the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, abandoned games, or reduced overs causing panic, this list counts down the 10 most unforgettable matches where rain played the villain (or hero).

10. 2002 ICC Champions Trophy Final – India vs Sri Lanka

• Location: Colombo
• Result: Joint Winners due to rain
• Impact: Title shared for the first time

Rain Changed washed out both final days, and for the only time in ICC history, two teams lifted the trophy together.

9. 2019 World Cup Semi-Final – India vs New Zealand

• Location: Manchester
• Result: Match extended to reserve day due to rain
• Impact: India lost momentum, New Zealand advanced

The Rain Changed delay allowed NZ bowlers to return fresh on Day 2 and collapse India’s top order—a game-changing twist.

8. 1992 World Cup Semi-Final – South Africa vs England

• Location: Sydney
• Result: DLS farce: 22 runs needed off 1 ball
• Impact: One of the biggest heartbreaks in cricket

South Africa was robbed by a controversial rain rule, needing 22 off 1 after a sudden adjustment.

7. 2003 World Cup – South Africa vs Sri Lanka

• Location: Durban
• Result: Tie via DLS confusion
• Impact: South Africa eliminated at home

Rain Changed. Miscalculating the DLS target, Boucher defended instead of attacking — rain fell, and SA were knocked out.

6. 2022 Asia Cup – India vs Pakistan

• Location: Dubai
• Result: Rain threat caused over-reduction
• Impact: Pakistan won with better Powerplay planning

Rain was predicted, overs were shuffled, and Pakistan capitalised with smarter chasing and field placements.

5. 1996 World Cup Semi-Final – India vs Sri Lanka

• Location: Kolkata
• Result: Crowd riots after India’s collapse
• Impact: Match awarded to Sri Lanka

Though not full Rain Changed, a drizzle + pitch change triggered India’s collapse, leading to a historic walkover.

4. 2021 WTC Final – India vs New Zealand

• Location: Southampton
• Result: Reserve day used due to 2-day rain delay
• Impact: NZ win first-ever Test Championship

The match was hanging, but the rain created enough pressure to make every hour critical on the final day.

3. 2013 Champions Trophy Final – India vs England

• Location: Birmingham
• Result: 20-over final due to rain
• Impact: Dhoni’s captaincy brilliance in a shortened game

Reduced overs created a T20-like thrill. Dhoni’s tactical masterclass helped India clinch the tightest of wins.

2. 2019 World Cup Final – England vs New Zealand

• Location: Lord’s
• Result: Rain led to a tied match → Super Over → Boundary count
• Impact: England wins the most controversial WC final ever

Rain delays meant a low-scoring thriller that ended in a tie twice, and was eventually decided by most boundaries, sparking global debate.

1. 2007 ODI – Australia vs Sri Lanka (Dambulla)

• Location: Dambulla
• Result: Sri Lanka win due to 0a .01 better run rate
• Impact: Historic win via fractional net run rate due to rain interruptions

The game swung dramatically due to frequent rain breaks, and Sri Lanka’s win by just 0.01 net run rate margin became legendary.

From ruined dreams to miraculous results, rain has always been the silent game-changer in cricket. While some teams found fortune in the showers, others lost years of hard work due to bad luck and slippery outfields.

These 10 moments where rain changed cricket history show that weather is the ultimate X-factor — a reminder that in cricket, nothing is over until the clouds say so.

FAQ – Rain Changed Cricket History!