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ODI World Cup Winners List

Cricket, second only to soccer in global popularity, has become a sport enjoyed by over 100 nations worldwide. The game’s growing appeal has led to the recognition of just 12 teams with ICC status.

The ODI World Cup, cricket’s premier tournament, was first held in 1975 and has been contested every four years since. Australia stands as the most successful team, having won five championships, followed by India and the West Indies, each with two titles.

Here, we take a look at the winners of the ODI World Cup to date. A total of 13 editions have been held, with the first champion being West Indies in 1975. They successfully defended their title in 1979. Let’s explore the champions of all the World Cup tournaments so far.

Also Read: T20 World Cup Winners List (2007-2024)

1. Australia (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023)

Australia has claimed six World Cup titles out of 13 editions, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history. Their dominance is highlighted by a record three consecutive wins from 1999 to 2007.

Australia’s first title came in 1987 under the leadership of Allan Border. In 1999, Steve Waugh led them to another victory, defeating Pakistan in the final. Ricky Ponting then steered the team to triumph in 2003 and 2007, defeating India and Sri Lanka, respectively. Michael Clarke’s leadership in 2015 saw them beat New Zealand to claim yet another title. Most recently, Australia won the 2023 Cricket World Cup by defeating India in the final. Consistently, they have been the team to beat in World Cup tournaments.

2. West Indies (1975 and 1979)

The West Indies were an unstoppable force in the 1970s and early 1980s, dominating world cricket and going undefeated in both the 1975 and 1979 World Cups. Under the captaincy of Clive Lloyd, they claimed the first two editions of the tournament.

In 1975, they defeated England in the final by 17 runs, with Lloyd himself playing a stellar knock of 102 runs, earning the Man of the Match award. Four years later, in 1979, Viv Richards delivered a match-winning performance, scoring an unbeaten 138 runs in the final against Australia. West Indies triumphed by 92 runs to secure their second consecutive World Cup title. While the team’s fortunes have declined in recent years, there was a time when they were unbeatable on the world stage.

3. India (1983 and 2011)

India’s triumph in the 1983 World Cup is one of the most remarkable stories in cricket history. Against all odds, they halted the West Indies’ bid for a hat-trick of World Cup titles. Few gave India a chance that year, as they had only won one game in the previous two editions. However, under Kapil Dev’s leadership, India stunned the cricket world by defeating the West Indies in the final by 43 runs, securing their first World Cup. Mohinder Amarnath was named Man of the Match for his all-round performance, scoring 26 runs and taking 3/12.

Then, 28 years later, MS Dhoni led India to their second World Cup title in 2011 on home soil. India defeated Sri Lanka in the final by six wickets, with Dhoni playing a match-winning knock of 91* runs. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award, and India became the first team to win a World Cup on home ground.

4. Pakistan (1992)

Pakistan secured their first World Cup victory in 1992, becoming the fourth team to lift the prestigious title. Led by Imran Khan, Pakistan displayed exceptional performances throughout the tournament. In the final, Wasim Akram played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 33 off 18 balls and taking 3/49 with the ball. Pakistan defeated England by 22 runs to win their maiden World Cup, a memorable triumph in their cricketing history.

5. Sri Lanka (1996)

In 1996, Sri Lanka made history by becoming only the fifth team to win the World Cup and the third Asian team to do so. Under the leadership of Arjuna Ranatunga, Sri Lanka put on a spectacular performance throughout the tournament, which was co-hosted by India and Pakistan. In the final, they defeated Australia by seven wickets to claim their first-ever title. Sri Lanka later reached the finals in 2007 and 2011 but fell short against Australia and India, respectively.

6. England (2019)

England achieved their first-ever World Cup victory in 2019 under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan. The final against New Zealand ended in a thrilling tie, and even after the super-over was tied, England were declared the winners based on the higher number of boundaries scored. This unique rule helped England secure their maiden World Cup title on home soil, marking a historic moment in their cricketing history.

ICC World Cup Winners List:

ODI World Cup Winners Captain List: