India has claimed the ICC World Cup trophy three times—1983, 2007, and 2011—across two formats, over 28 years, under the leadership of Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.
India’s ICC World Cup Victories
| Format | Year | Captain | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 1983 | Kapil Dev | West Indies | Lord’s |
| T20 | 2007 | MS Dhoni | Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| ODI | 2011 | MS Dhoni | Sri Lanka | Mumbai |
1983 – India’s Historic First World Cup Win
Before their success in 1983, India hadn’t made it past the group stages in the 1975 and 1979 tournaments. Despite skilled players like Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath, and Mohinder Amarnath, the team suffered numerous defeats against strong opponents, with their only victory coming against East Africa in 1975.
With a new captain, Kapil Dev, India arrived in England for the 1983 World Cup as underdogs but surprised everyone by claiming the trophy, marking the start of India’s rise as a cricketing powerhouse.
India’s Path to the Final
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun-09 | Manchester | West Indies | Won | 34 Runs |
| Jun-11 | Leicester | Zimbabwe | Won | 5 Wickets |
| Jun-13 | Nottinghamshire | Australia | Lost | 162 Runs |
| Jun-15 | Kennington | West Indies | Lost | 66 Runs |
| Jun-18 | Tunbridge | Zimbabwe | Won | 31 Runs |
| Jun-20 | Bristol | Australia | Won | 118 Runs |
| Jun-22 | Manchester | England | Won | 6 Wickets |
| Jun-25 | London | West Indies | Won | 43 Runs |
India faced off against teams like Australia, West Indies, and Zimbabwe in Group B, securing their first win against the defending champions West Indies, then overcoming setbacks to reach the semifinals. After defeating England, they clinched the title by besting West Indies in the final.
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2007 – India Clinches the Inaugural T20 World Cup
Following an early exit from the 2007 ODI World Cup, the BCCI chose to field a new, younger side led by MS Dhoni for the T20 World Cup. Despite being underdogs, Dhoni’s leadership guided India to victory, establishing his reputation as a world-class captain.
India’s Path to the Final
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep-13 | Durban | Scotland | Tie | No Result |
| Sep-14 | Durban | Pakistan | Won | Bowl-out |
| Sep-16 | Johannesburg | New Zealand | Lost | 10 Runs |
| Sep-19 | Durban | England | Won | 18 Runs |
| Sep-20 | Durban | South Africa | Won | 37 Runs |
| Sep-22 | Durban | Australia | Won | 15 Runs |
| Sep-24 | Johannesburg | Pakistan | Won | 5 Runs |
After a rain-affected game against Scotland, India rallied to defeat opponents, including Pakistan and Australia, to reach the final. In a thrilling encounter against Pakistan, India secured victory by five runs in the final over.
2011 – India Reclaims ODI Glory After 28 Years
In contrast to their previous underdog status, India entered the 2011 World Cup as favourites, being one of the host nations and featuring a well-balanced team. The advent of the IPL gave players much-needed international exposure, enabling India to play with confidence.
India’s Path to the Final
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb-19 | Mirpur | Bangladesh | Won | 87 Runs |
| Feb-27 | Bengaluru | England | Tied | Match Tied |
| Mar-06 | Bengaluru | Ireland | Won | 5 Wickets |
| Mar-09 | Delhi | Netherlands | Won | 5 Wickets |
| Mar-12 | Nagpur | South Africa | Lost | 3 Wickets |
| Mar-20 | Chennai | West Indies | Won | 80 Runs |
| Mar-24 | Ahmedabad | Australia | Won | 5 Wickets |
| Mar-30 | Mohali | Pakistan | Won | 29 Runs |
| Apr-02 | Mumbai | Sri Lanka | Won | 6 Wickets |
Despite a loss to South Africa and a tie with England, India reached the semifinals, where they defeated Pakistan. In the final against Sri Lanka, vital innings from Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni’s 91* led India to a six-wicket victory.
While India later won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, they haven’t claimed another ICC trophy since.
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