Australia dominate ODI World Cup winners list, India and West Indies distant second

The Australian cricket team has dominated the ODI World Cup since its inception in 1975.

Organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the ODI World Cup is a quadrennial cricket tournament. 

Officially known as ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, the marquee cricket tournament is one of the world's most viewed sporting events. It is considered the "flagship event of the international cricket calendar" by the world’s cricket governing body.

Led by captain Clive Lloyd, the West Indies cricket team won the inaugural edition of the ODI World Cup after defeating Australia by 17 runs in the final in England.

Four years later, the star-studded West Indies outfit continued their dominance in world cricket as they retained the ODI World Cup after beating hosts England by 92 runs at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground.

In 1983, the Kapil Dev-led India stunned two-time winners West Indies by 43 runs in the final to clinch their maiden ODI World Cup title.

ODI World Cup winners list: 1975 to 2023

Australia later emerged as one of the most dominant teams in world cricket since 1987. 

The Aussies pipped arch-rivals England by seven runs at Eden Gardens in the 1987 World Cup final to bag their first ODI World Cup.

Later in the fifth edition of the ODI World Cup, Pakistan went on to lift their maiden ODI World Cup under the leadership of Imran Khan. Pakistan overcame England by 22 runs in the 1992 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

In 1996, another Asian cricketing powerhouse Sri Lanka hogged the limelight. Led by their talismanic captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka beat Australia by seven wickets to claim their maiden ODI World Cup title.

From 1999 to 2007, Australia became the first team to win three consecutive ODI World Cup titles.

While they won their second title under Steve Waugh in 1999, the Ricky Ponting-led Australia clinched the next two editions in 2003 and 2007.

In 2011, the Indian cricket team won the ODI World Cup after 28 years. Led by captain MS Dhoni, India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the 2011 final at the Wankhede Stadium.

Co-hosts Australia later went on to bag their fifth ODI World Cup title after defeating arch-rivals New Zealand by seven wickets in the 2015 final.

Four years later, England and New Zealand were involved in the most iconic ODI World Cup final.

The Eoin Morgan-led England pipped New Zealand on boundary count to win their first ODI World Cup title.

In 2023, Australia clinched their sixth ODI World Cup after beating hosts India by six wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Most successful teams in ODI World Cup: By each country

Photo credit: Alamy