To know how many times India won the World Cup, first it is required to look at the history of winning the World Cups by India. Let’s dig into it.
The Indian cricket team is one of the most successful teams in the history of world cricket. India’s reputation in the cricket world dates back to 1932, when it became the sixth nation to be granted Test cricket status. Since then, and following several changes in the landscape of Indian cricket, the 1970s saw the emergence of players such as Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Bishen Singh Bedi, who helped India win their first-ever World Cup in 1983 against all odds. India’s victory in 1983 was a remarkable achievement, as they were considered to be the incapables going into the tournament. However, led by the batting of Sunil Gavaskar and the bowling of Kapil Dev, India won the final against West Indies, who were the defending champions. Since then, the Indian cricket team has won a T20 World Cup in 2007 and continued their rejuvenation with another 50-over World Cup four years later in 2011. India is now considered one of the strongest teams in cricket, be it any format such as ODI, T20, and Test.
With three massive victories, India is one of the strongest competitors for all its opponents around the globe.
After reading the table below, you will get the answer for how many times India won the world cup.
Breakdown of Victories
Year | Format | Won Against | Captain | Playground | Host |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983 | ODI | West Indies | Kapil Dev | Lord’s, London | England |
2007 | T20 | Pakistan | MS Dhoni | Wanderer’s Stadium, Johannesburg | South Africa |
2011 | ODI | Sri Lanka | MS Dhoni | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | India |
Much Awaited Victory of 1983
The first ODI World Cup was played in 1975 and was won by the West Indies, who later played with Australia in the finals and won the match. Continuing the winning, West Indies also won the next World Cup in the year 1979.
In 1983, India finally registered its first win in the ODI World Cup under the captaincy of the all-rounder Kapil Dev, defeating the two-time defending champion West Indies in the group stage match and then in the final by huge margin i.e., 43 runs.
As a result, this victory marked the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket, and cricket became dramatically popular in the country.
The 1983 World Cup victory for India was a magnificent achievement, as West Indies were considered the favorites to win the tournament but not anymore. India’s victory was also important because it helped to change the perception of Indian cricket for its fans worldwide. Before winning the World Cup in 1983, India was considered as a minor cricketing power. However, their victory in the World Cup helped to put them in bold letters on the map and showed the world that they were and they are capable of winning under pressure too.
Note – Moving ahead, you will learn how many times India won the world cup.
Even the 1983 World Cup victory is still celebrated in India. It is treated as one of the greatest moments in Indian Cricket. The victory helped to connect the country and gave them a sense of national honor. It also helped to inspire the coming generation of cricketers and helped many to choose it as a career.
Relatable: 1983 World Cup Team India Squad
The Champions of T20 – 2007 World Cup
India won the first T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the year 2007. The young team played exceptionally well throughout the tournament. They defeated Pakistan in a bowl-out in the opening round, which was a near miss for Pakistan then won two of their next three matches in the Super 8s category to move ahead towards victory. Giving a tough competition to the Australian team in the semi-finals, who had just won their third 50-over World Cup in a row, India gained a more win in its bank. In the final match against Pakistan, India won in a thrilling last-over finish, with Joginder Sharma defending 13 runs and taking the crucial wicket of Misbah-ul-Haq. It is counted as a historic victory for India and is still remembered as one of the most tremendous gains in the history of cricket.
After reading this, now you have your answer for how many times India won the T20 world cup.
The Continual Achievement – 2011 World Cup
The Indian Cricket Team won its second ODI World Cup in 2011, overseen by former skipper and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After registering four wins out of six in the group stage, India faced a tough challenge against Australia in the quarter-finals of the series. Although, half-centuries by Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar, along with a greatest all-round performance by Yuvraj Singh, helped India blow the Aussies by five wickets. In the semi-final against Pakistan, Sachin Tendulkar’s fifty and a volatile performance by bowlers helped India invade into the finals with a 29-run win. The final was held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against Sri Lanka. They posted an excellent target of 274 runs. In reply, Team India lost two early wickets i.e., for Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. Despite all, Gautam Gambhir (97) and Virat Kohli (35) stabilized the ship before MS Dhoni’s unbeaten and smoggy 91 runs powered by his bat to their second World Cup and the first in 28 years. All-rounder Yuvraj Singh was awarded the Player of the Series award for scoring smashing 362 runs and taking an exceptional 15 wickets.
India’s victory was a historic moment for the country, celebrated by millions of fans nationwide. The team was welcomed back home with all eyes on them and a grand reception, making the victory memorable for lifetime.
Concluding the article, with respect and consideration for the Indian Cricket Team and wishing them luck for forthcoming matches in different formats, we hope that this article is helpful for those who are seeking the answer for how many times India won the world cup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When was the first ODI played?
The 1st ODI was played in 1971 on 5th January between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Who is known as the No.1 player in ODI?
Undoubtedly, Virat Kohli from the Indian Cricket Team, with 25322 runs in all formats, including ODI, T20, and Test formats in International Cricket, called him ‘King Kohli.’
Which Indian players scored the highest runs in the World Cup?
Unquestionably, Sachin Tendulkar, with massive 2278 runs in all the World Cups so far.
Who is considered the most successful captain of the Indian Cricket Team?
With a tenure of about 11 years (2007-2011), Indian Cricket Team played 200 matches in One Day International under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni with a winning average of 59.52%. Hence, MS Dhoni has proved to be the most successful captain of the Indian Cricket Team.
In which year MS Dhoni retired from captaincy?
In the year 2014, MS took retirement from Test Cricket, and in 2017, he announced his retirement from other formats, like T20 and ODI cricket.