After Australia’s defeat in the 2023 World Cup, the victory chariot of Rohit Sena, who broke Pakistan’s pride, is galloping. By winning six out of six matches played in the first phase, the Indian team has almost confirmed its place in the semi-finals. India now has matches left against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Netherlands, the way Indian batting and bowling are shining, it does not seem that the team’s victory will be eclipsed in the future also. Cricket pundits are also believing that India has the power to win the title while remaining unbeatable. If this happens, Rohit Sena will join the club of West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka, who have captured the title while remaining unbeatable. West Indies won the title in the 1975 and 1979 World Cups, while Australia remained unbeaten in the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. Sri Lanka has done this in 1996 also.
1975 and 1979 World Cup: West Indies won five out of five matches
In the first ODI World Cup held in England in 1975, the opposing teams from the West Indies were terrified. West Indies performed as per their name and defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets, Pakistan by one wicket and Australia by seven wickets in the league match. In the semi-finals, New Zealand were bowled out for 158 runs and won by five wickets. Then won the title by defeating Australia in the final. Chasing the target of 292 runs, Australia had scored 81 runs for one wicket, but Richards turned the match by running out first Alan Turner and then Chappell brothers Ian and Greg Chappell. Defeated Australia by 17 runs in the final.
The 1979 World Cup was also played on England’s soil. After winning the 1975 World Cup, the West Indies team was ready to win the second consecutive World Cup, but they faced the challenge of strong teams like England, Australia, New Zealand, but in this World Cup too, the other teams proved to be dwarf in front of the West Indies. West Indies’ first match in this World Cup was against India. West Indies won by nine wickets. The second match with Sri Lanka was canceled due to rain. Defeated New Zealand by 32 runs in the third match. Made a place in the final by defeating Pakistan by 43 runs in the semi-finals. England faced West Indies in the 1979 World Cup and this was the first time that a European country had reached the World Cup final. England won the toss, bowled first. Vivian Richards (138 runs) and Collis King (86 runs) handled the innings. West Indies scored 286 runs losing 9 wickets in 60 overs. The England team was all out for 194 runs in 51 overs.
1996 World Cup: Sri Lanka got the benefit of controversies, won six out of six matches and became champion.
The 1996 World Cup was held for the second time in the Indian subcontinent, jointly organized by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There was controversy regarding the matches to be held in Sri Lanka in this World Cup. A few days before the World Cup, 90 people were killed in an attack by suspected Tamil rebels. Australia and West Indies refused to go to Sri Lanka and play matches. ICC declared Sri Lanka the winner of both these matches. In the league match, they defeated Zimbabwe and India by six wickets and made it to the quarter-finals by defeating Kenya by 144 runs. When Sri Lanka faced England in the quarter-finals, they won by five wickets and reached the semi-finals. The semi-final match between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata was also quite dramatic. More than 1 lakh 10 thousand spectators present could not digest India’s defeat which was considered certain and went on a rampage. Due to the hue and cry, ICC declared Sri Lanka the winner. Australia faced Sri Lanka in the final, but no one had expected such a one-sided final. Australia, playing first, scored 241 runs with the help of Mark Taylor’s 74 runs, but Sri Lanka achieved the target at the loss of three wickets.
Kangaroos had won two titles by winning 22 consecutive matches from 2003 to 2007.
The success of the Australian team, which won the title by defeating Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup final, continued in 2003 also. Under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting, the Australian team remained unbeatable throughout the tournament. This trend continued till the 2007 World Cup. Won two world titles by winning 22 consecutive matches and also completed a hat-trick of titles. The 2003 World Cup was played in South Africa. In the first match, Australia defeated Pakistan by 82 runs, then India by nine wickets, Netherlands by 75 runs, Zimbabwe by seven wickets, Namibia by 256 runs and England by two wickets. In the Super League, it made it to the semi-finals by defeating Sri Lanka by 96 wickets, New Zealand by 96 wickets and Kenya by five wickets. Sri Lanka was defeated by 48 runs in the semi-finals. Ricky Ponting scored a huge century in the final and became champion by defeating India by 125 runs. The Australian team’s winning streak continued again in the 2007 World Cup under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting. In the first match, they reached Super-8 by defeating Scotland by 203 runs, Netherlands by 229 runs and South Africa by 83 runs. In Super-8, it reached the semi-finals by defeating West Indies by 103 runs, Bangladesh by 10 wickets, England by 7 wickets, Ireland by 9 wickets, Sri Lanka by 7 wickets and New Zealand by 215 runs. Made a place in the final by defeating South Africa by seven wickets in the semi-finals. Won the title by defeating Sri Lanka by 53 runs in the final.