World Cup History - India

1975

India fared poorly with just one win in four matches in the group stages en route to an exit from the inaugural World Cup.

1979

India made a quick departure from the World Cup as a result of three successive losses in the preliminary stage.

1983

India was placed in Group B along side West Indies, Australia and Zimbabwe. They had a decent start to their campaign with four wins in six games to ensure a place in the semi-finals. In a one-sided match, they reigned supreme over England at Old Trafford with a six-wicket victory chasing 213. Subsequently, they defied the mighty West Indies in the finals at Lords to register a stunning 43 run win.

Skipper Kapil Dev had rescued India initially against minnows Zimbabwe, playing their first World Cup. The Indians were on the mat at 17 for five before Kapil unleashed an array of shots to hit an unbeaten 175 to take Indians to 266 for eight. Seamer Roger Binny was the pick of the bowlers in the World Cup with 18 wickets

1987

Firm favourites to defend the title again in the fourth edition of the World Cup at home, India made a rollicking start winning five out of six games in Group A to qualify for the semi-finals. India lost the semi-finals to Mike Gatting's England side as the last five Indian wickets fell for 14 runs chasing 255 runs to win.

1992

The Indians, playing under the leadership of Mohammad Azharuddin, never quite got going in the round robin stage as they finished near the bottom with two victories in eight matches, just above Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. 

1996

India made a sound start to their World Cup campaign at home to secure a quarter-final clash with archrivals Pakistan. They prevailed over the Pakistanis with a 39-run victory in Bangalore to book a place in semi-finals. Indians were ousted from the tournament in Kolkata, however, as the pitch started turning square and the likes of off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena and left-arm tweaker Sanath Jayasuriya became unplayable. The unruly behaviour of the Kolkata crowd ensured that match referee Clive Lloyd awarded the match to Sri Lanka with India slumping to 120 for eight, chasing 251 to win. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar was the top run-getter of the tournament with 523 runs.

1999

India were placed in Group A and qualified for the Super Sixes with three victories in six games in the group stage only to fritter away later failing to secure a semi-final spot. However, there was a 47-run consolation win against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

2003

India registered five wins out of six games to come second in Pool A, with Australia topping that group with a perfect record. In the Super Six stages, they managed to win all three matches to find a spot in the semi-finals. In the semi-final against Kenya, they outclassed the opposition powered by an unbeaten 111 from captain Saurav Ganguly. However, India could not clear the last obstacle suffering a massive defeat to the Australians, going down by 125 runs, after skipper Ricky Ponting played a captain’s knock of 140 not out to take Australia to 359 for two in 50 overs. Tendulkar was the top scorer of the tournament with 673 runs.

2007

Under the leadership of Rahul Dravid, India had a premature exit with just one win in three games as they failed to make it to the Super Eights. The loss against minnows Bangladesh was decisive in their ouster as Indians lost the match by five wickets, defending a total of 191.

© Cricket World 2011