Revisiting India’s triumphant ODI World Cup campaigns

The Indian cricket team has participated in every edition of the ODI World Cup since its inception in 1975.

Led by captain Srinivas Venkataraghavan, India competed in the inaugural edition of the ICC ODI World Cup in England.  

Having managed one win and two losses, Srinivas Venkataraghavan’s men were knocked out in the group stage of the 1975 Cricket World Cup.

In 1979, India experienced another dismal campaign as they lost all their three group matches and were eliminated in the group stage.

Four years later, the Kapil Dev-led Indian cricket team scripted history as they stunned two-time defending champions West Indies in the final to clinch the 1983 Cricket World Cup.

Since then, India has been one of the most successful sides in ODI World Cup history. 

How many times India won ODI World Cup

India has won the ODI World Cup on two occasions in 1983 and 2011. Team India is the joint second-most decorated team in ODI World Cup history along with West Indies.

After winning their maiden ODI World Cup title in England in 1983, India clinched their second ODI World Cup title under MS Dhoni in India in 2011.

They also finished as runners-up at the 2003 World Cup. The Men in Blue have reached the semi-finals four times in 1987, 1996, 2015 and 2019.

Meanwhile, Australia is the most successful team in the tournament’s history with five titles.

1983 ICC World Cup 

The Kapil Dev-led India were placed in Group B alongside West Indies, Australia and Zimbabwe.

India started their campaign in an emphatic fashion as they stunned two-time defending champions West Indies by 34 runs at Old Trafford in Manchester. 

Kapil Dev’s men continued their impressive start as they registered a comprehensive five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Leicester.

However, India later suffered back-to-back setbacks as they lost to Australia by 162 runs and West Indies by 66 runs in their next two group matches.

After the two losses, India needed to beat Australia and Zimbabwe by huge margins to qualify for the semi-finals.

India later bounced back to defeat Zimbabwe by 31 runs at Tunbridge Wells to stay in contention for a place in the last four.

They followed it up with another 118-run win over Australia to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time in their Cricket World Cup history.

In the semi-finals, India produced another brilliant performance to beat hosts England by six wickets.

Up against two-time reigning champions West Indies, India started as underdogs in the final. 

They were bowled out for 183 in 54.4 overs. However, the bowlers responded as they bundled out West Indies for 140 in 52 overs to help India claim their maiden ODI World Cup.

2011 ICC World Cup 

Co-hosts India were one of the favourites to win the 2011 ICC World Cup. Led by captain MS Dhoni, the team possessed several match-winners including Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.

India began their campaign with a 87-run win over Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. 

India later faced England at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The high-scoring encounter ended in a thrilling tie.

MS Dhoni’s men continued their good run as they defeated Ireland by five wickets and Netherlands by five wickets in their next two matches.

They later suffered their first defeat as the hosts went down to South Africa by three wickets in Nagpur.

Gary Kirsten’s India soon bounced back to beat West Indies by 80 runs to finish as the second-placed team in Group B with nine points from six matches.

In the quarter-finals, India overcame then four-time defending champions Australia by five wickets to storm into the last four.

India were scheduled to face arch-rivals Pakistan in Mohali and they continued their scintillating form as they beat Pakistan by 29 runs to set-up a mouth-watering final with Sri Lanka.

India later became the first host nation to clinch the ODI World Cup as they defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to bag their second title.

India at ODI World Cup

Photo credit: Alamy