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Tracing India’s journey in Cricket World Cup

Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential World Cup in 1983 at the Lord’s Balcony is perhaps one of the most iconic images of Indian Cricket history.

Tracing India’s journey in Cricket World Cup

India's captain Virat Kohli (C) leads his players as they celebrate after victory in the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Bangladesh and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England, on July 2, 2019. (Photo by Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP)

The 40th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 was played between India and Bangladesh on Tuesday at Edgbaston. Virat Kohli led Indian team cinched this match by 28 runs. With this, they became the second team to qualify for the semi-finals.

Notably, Australia had become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of this World Cup.

Seventh entry in the semi-finals

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The ongoing Cricket World Cup is the twelfth edition of the Cricket World Cup. This is the seventh occasion in these 12 tournaments that India have made it to the semi-finals.

Prior to this, India had qualified for the semi-finals in 2015, 2011, 2003, 1996, 1987 and 1983. However, only thrice has India made it to the finals- in 2011, 2003 and 1983. India has lifted the World Cup trophy twice- in 1983 and in 2011.

India’s World Cup journey

1975- Group stage exit

This was the first edition of the World Cup which was organised in England. India had a disappointing campaign in this edition being knocked out in the group stage itself.

On the other hand, England used their home conditions to their advantage to win all their three group stage encounters.

The final of this edition was played between Australia and West Indies. West Indies defeated the Kangaroos by 17 runs to lift the first ever Men’s World Cup.

1979- Group Stage exit

The 1979 Cricket World Cup was once again played in England. The Indian team performed worse than their 1975 performance, failing to win a single game in the group stage and being knocked out in the group stage itself.

The English team performed really well in their own backyard and went all the way to the finals. However, they were beaten by the West Indies in the final who lifted their second successive World Cup trophy.

1983- Winners

This was the tournament in which India had beaten West Indies in the finals to lift the World Cup for the first time. In this edition too, England had looked good until they were defeated by India in the semi-finals.

Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential World Cup in 1983 at the Lord’s Balcony is perhaps one of the most iconic images of Indian Cricket history.

1987- Semi-finalists

India did well in this edition, winning five out of their six group matches. However, in the semi-final against England, it was England’s time to take revenge for the 1983 semi-final loss as they defeated India convincingly.

Australia won the final of this edition beating England by seven runs.

India and Pakistan had co-hosted this tournament.

This was the first World Cup win for Australia. They have followed that win with a record four more titles.

1992- League stage exit

In 1992, Pakistan and England played the finals in which Pakistan defeated England to win their first and only World Cup till date. India were knocked out of the tournament from the league stage itself.

Notably, this was the last time when the World Cup was played in the Round Robin format.

1996- Semi-finalists

In arguably the most controversial match in the World Cup history, Sri Lanka were declared as winners of the semi-finals when an Eden Garden capacity crowd lost their cool seeing a dismal India performance.

Sri Lanka went on to lift the trophy.

1999- Super Six stage exit

Although India crossed the group stage phase of the tournament, as soon as they entered the Super Six, their performance dipped and India was knocked out.

This was the beginning of the great Australian dominance in World Cup history.

Australia beat Pakistan in the finals to lift their second title.

2003- Runners Up

India’s only runner-up finish came in the 2003 World Cup when they failed to go past the mighty Australians. India were in fact completely outplayed in the match, losing by 125 runs.

Australia went on to lift their third World Cup trophy.

2007- Group stage exit

In 2007, Indian cricket team had a nightmare of a campaign losing to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and being knocked out of the tournament in the group stage itself.

Meanwhile, Australia continued to dominate the World Cricket winning yet another trophy making it three in a row and the fourth overall.

2011- Winners

India went on to win the 2011 edition of the tournament after defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the final. India managed to lift the trophy after 28 years.

2015- Semi-finalists

In 2015, Australia came back to winning ways, clinching their fifth title by defeating New Zealand in the finals. Australia had beaten India in the semis to end India’s World Cup campaign.

With India in the semi-final yet again, Indian fans would be hoping to see India lift the coveted trophy for the third time.

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