Find out how many times has India Won the ICC World Cup since its inception in 1975. Learn about the teams they defeated during their winning journeys.
India has won the ICC World Cup three times: in 1983, 2007, and 2011. These victories came in two different formats over a span of 28 years, led by two different captains, Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.
Summary of World Cup Wins
| 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 First World Cup Triumph
The Indian cricket team struggled in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, failing to progress beyond the group stages. Despite having great players like Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, the team suffered heavy defeats against England, New Zealand, and West Indies. Their only win came against East Africa in 1975.
By the time India arrived in England for the 1983 World Cup, under new captain Kapil Dev, they were seen as the least likely to succeed.
ALSO READ: India’s entry into the 2007 T20 World Cup was similar to their 1983 experience. The previous ODI World Cup ended poorly for India, as they were eliminated in the group stage after losses to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Following this disappointing performance, the BCCI decided to send a fresh team to the T20 tournament, led by MS Dhoni. India had a rocky start, with a washed-out game and a narrow loss to New Zealand. However, they won key matches against Pakistan and Australia, making it to the finals. In a thrilling final against Pakistan, India won by just five runs. In contrast to their earlier World Cup appearances, India entered the 2011 World Cup as a strong contender. Co-hosting the tournament, the team was well-acquainted with the conditions and had a balanced mix of experience and youth, aided by the growing popularity of the IPL. After only one loss and a draw in the group stages, India faced Pakistan in the semi-finals and won comfortably. The final against Sri Lanka was challenging as India chased 275 runs, but with strong performances from Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni, they won by six wickets. India later won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, marking it as their last ICC title to date. READ MORE: 
India’s Road to the Final in 2007
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 By 10 Runs Sep-19 Durban England Won By 18 Runs Sep-20 Durban South Africa Won By 37 Runs Sep-22 Durban Australia Won By 15 Runs Sep-24 Johannesburg Pakistan Won By 5 Runs 2011: India Wins the ODI World Cup Again
India’s Journey to the Final in 2011
Date Venue Opponent Result Margin Feb-19 Mirpur Bangladesh Won By 87 Runs Feb-27 Bengaluru England Tie Match Tied Mar-06 Bengaluru Ireland Won By 5 Wickets Mar-09 Delhi Netherlands Won By 5 Wickets Mar-12 Nagpur South Africa Lost By 3 Wickets Mar-20 Chennai West Indies Won By 80 Runs Mar-24 Ahmedabad Australia Won By 5 Wickets Mar-30 Mohali Pakistan Won By 29 Runs Apr-02 Mumbai Sri Lanka Won By 6 Wickets
