Top individual shows by Indian players in ODI World cups history

 

As India is poised to start their world cup 2023 campaign , fans & experts are focusing on the Indian players who are more likely to shine in this event . We take this opportunity to look back at some of the best individual performances of Indian cricketers in the  world cup history .

Kapil Dev  - 175* , 1/32 v Zimbabwe  1983

Kapil Dev 's exploits vs Zimbabwe in the 1983 World cup remains the finest individual performance in world cup history by an Indian. Coming to the crease with India down in the dumps at 17/5 , Kapil held the innings together an then accelerated in explosive style to script an absolute epic knock full of dazzling shots.  He hit 175 off 138 balls with 16 four and 6 sixes to take India to 266 . Then he bowled a tidy spell (1/32) as India won by 31 runs to keep their world cup hopes alive 

Mohinder Amarnath  46 & 2/27 v England 1983 semi final 

Mohinder Amarnath was India 's trump card in 1983 World cup. In the semis vs England first he dismissed Gower and Gatting cheaply with nagging tight bowling (2/27) and then batted solidly for a classy 46 to help  India reach their historic first ever World cup  final  .

Mohinder Amarnath   26 & 3/12 v West Indies 1983  final

After his semi final heroics Mohinder produced another great performance in the final . In a low scoring game he batted superbly in tough conditions for 26 showing great technical expertise against the most lethal fast bowling quartet  and then took the last 3 of the 4 West Indies wickets  to win India their first ever world cup in sensational style .

Chetan Sharma  3/51 ( Hattrick) vs New Zealand   1987 

The first ever World cup hattrick was scripted by Chetan Sharma when he destroyed a fledging New Zealand innings at Nagpur in 1987 by dismissing  Rutherford, Ian Smith and Chatfield - all clean bowled in 3 successive deliveries to send the crowd wild with excitement .  India won the match to top their group . 

Sunil Gavaskar  103* v New Zealand 1987 

India needed a win in 35 overs vs New Zealand to avoid meeting Pakistan in the semis on Pakistan soil . India chased down 221 in just 32 overs with Gavaskar smashing a scintillating 103 not out in just 88 balls . Sunny's  innings was laced with dazzling shots all around the ground.  

Sachin Tendulkar   54* and 1/37 v Pakistan 1992 

In the first ever  India v Pakistan clash in a world cup at Sydney , India batted first and  put up 216 in 49 overs . Tendulkar at 18 years of age held the middle order together with a matured  unbeaten 54 off 62 balls on a tricky pitch . Then he bowled 10 overs for only 37 runs and claimed Pakistan top scorer Amir Sohail as India finally won by 43 runs .

Kapil Dev   35 and 2/30 v Pakistan 1992 

In the first ever  India v Pakistan World cup match . Kapil Dev scored a quick 35 off 26 balls to get India past 200 mark and had a good partnership with young Tendulkar on a tricky surface and then bowled with skill to dismiss Inzamam Ul Haq and Moin Khan as Pakistan slumped to defeat 

Ajay Jadeja  45 in 25 balls v Pakistan 1996 

India's high voltage match Pakistan created great excitement . After solid runs from top order , Ajay Jadeja came out and smashed 45 off 25 balls with dazzling shots  including two 6s of Waqar Younis to take India to a huge 287 . The Jadeja bowled 5 overs for only 19 as India restricted an aggresive Pakistan to win by 39 runs. 

Rahul Dravid   145 v Sri Lanka 1999

At Tounton India met reigning champions Sri Lanka and Dravid batting at 3  stabilised the innings in good  bowling conditions by playing classic shots to take the attack to Sri Lanka.  He scored a dazzling 145 in 129 balls to set up India 's big win in the company of Sourav Ganguly 

Sourav Ganguly   183 v Sri Lanka 1999

India faced holders Sri Lanka at Tounton in good bowling conditions.  However Sourav Ganguly batted sensibly at the start in company of Dravid and after he settled down he went after the bowling by playing breathtaking shots . He plundered 7 sixes off Sri Lanka spin bowlers including Muralitharan to score a brilliant 183 in just 158 balls  to take India to a huge victory.  183 is also the highest ever score by an Indian batter  in a world  cup 

Sourav Ganguly  40 & 3/27 vs England 1999

India played hosts England in 1999 World cup in an important match .Ganguly scored a crucial 40 to help India get 232 with contributions from others and then bowled a great mid innings spell of 3/27 getting crucial wickets of Nasser Hussain , Collingwood and Ealham to derail England chase and win the game for India 

Ashis Nehra  6/23 v England 2003 

India scored 250 batting first and then had England losing both openers before Ashis Nehra took over with his lethal left arm swing at brisk pace.  On a lively pitch at Durban under lights , Nehra swung the ball to get Nasser Hussain and Vaughan caught behind , Stewart lbw , Collingwood , White and Irani nicking to slips and keeper as England batting was ripped apart for Nehra's lethal 6/23 . India won by 82 runs . 

Sachin Tendulkar 98 vs Pakistan  2003 

India & Pakistan played a high voltage game at Centurion . Pakistan set a big 274 target and Tendulkar started the innings with an explosive 6 over third man off Shoaib Akhtar and carried on from there playing breathtaking strokes to score a dazzling 98 off 75 balls to set up the chase before Dravid and Yuvraj finished the game with 4 overs to spare .

Yuvraj Singh  2/44 & 57* vs Australia 2011 

India played  4 times champion Australia in quarter final and Yuvraj Singh bowled superbly to dismiss Haddin and Clarke . Then after good start , India lost a few wickets and then Yuvraj handled a tricky chase superbly to finish the match with 57 not out off 65 balls to take India to semis.  

Gautam Gambhir  97 v Sri Lanka  2011 final 

After Sri Lanka  set up a challenging 274 target in the final , India lost both openers cheaply but Gambhir held the innings together under pressure and played a fine knock of 97 in 122 balls to set up India's world cup win 

MS Dhoni  91* v Sri Lanka  2011 final 

At Mumbai India were chasing a formidable target of 275 in the final  and slipped to 114/3  when Dhoni joined Gambhir at the crease.  He build a strong partnership before Gambhir departed at 223/4 . Dhoni stayed strong and finished in style to take India to 2nd world cup with a fabulous knock of unbeaten 91 off 79 balls

Virat Kohli   107 vs Pakistan  2015 

India and Pakistan played another mega clash in 2015 at Adelaide . Batting first India put on 300/7 largely due to a fine century by Virat Kohli who scored 107 off 126 balls and had good stands with Dhawan and Raina . Kohli's innings laid the foundation  of a convincing India win by 76  runs . 

Rohit Sharma 122* v South Africa 2019

South Africa had set up 228 for a win on a tricky surface but Rohit Sharma showed his class with a magnificently crafted 122 not out off just 140 balls against a quality bowling attack . Next highest score in the innings was 34 only . Rohit stayed not out and finished the game in style 

Shikhar Dhawan  117 vs Australia 2019 

India batted first in this high scoring  league match and Shikhar Dhawan led the way with a dazzling 117 off 109 balls with 16 fours  as India reached  352 and beat Australia by 36 runs.

Rohit Sharma 140  v Pakistan 2019

In this game India started well and Rohit Sharma was in magnificent touch scoring a fluent 140 in only 113 deliveries with 14  fours and 6 sixes as he had a solid stands with KL Rahul  and Virat Kohli and put India in a strong position to win match handsomely