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.
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India’s Journey to the Final in 1983
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun-09 | Manchester | West Indies | Won | By 34 Runs |
| Jun-11 | Leicester | Zimbabwe | Won | By 5 Wickets |
| Jun-13 | Nottingham | Australia | Lost | By 162 Runs |
| Jun-15 | Kennington | West Indies | Lost | By 66 Runs |
| Jun-18 | Turnbridge | Zimbabwe | Won | By 31 Runs |
| Jun-20 | Bristol | Australia | Won | By 118 Runs |
| Jun-22 | Manchester | England | Won | By 6 Wickets |
| Jun-25 | London | West Indies | Won | By 43 Runs |
India started their campaign with a surprise win against the defending champions, West Indies. After a few setbacks, Kapil Dev’s remarkable innings of 175 against Zimbabwe turned the tide for India. They went on to defeat England in the semi-finals and beat West Indies again in the final, winning their first World Cup title.
2007: Victory in the First T20 World Cup
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’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 |
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.
2011: India Wins the ODI World Cup Again
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.
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 |
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.
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