New Delhi. Moment-to-moment thrills have made cricket one of the most exciting sports in the world. A good innings, wicket, catch or run out, sometimes the game turns around and the winning team loses the match. The Cricket World Cup (ODI format) has also witnessed many such upset matches in its journey so far. However, after becoming the world champion in the year 1983 under the leadership of Kapil Dev, the Indian team’s performance in this tournament has been excellent. Team India, which has reached 3 World Cup finals so far, has become the champion 2 times (1983 and 2011). Apart from this, the team has reached the semi-finals four times (1987, 1996, 2015 and 2019), but apart from this great performance, the Indian team also has an embarrassing record in the World Cup.
In World Cup 1979, India became the first team to suffer a defeat at the hands of a non-Test playing team (Sri Lanka). Sri Lanka defeated an Indian team with stars like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath and Gundappa Vishwanath by 47 runs. This was the first major upset of the World Cup. Here are the 9 upset matches of the World Cup so far.
1. World Cup first Utlfer
India vs Sri Lanka (India vs Sri Lanka). In the 1979 match played in Manchester, England, Sri Lanka scored 238 runs in 60 overs with the help of half-centuries from Sunil Wettimuni, Roy Dias and Dalip Mendis. It was expected that India would easily surpass this score of the Sri Lankan team in Nainvelly. But the Indian team was all out for 191 runs in 54.1 overs. Dilip Vengsarkar top scored with 36 runs while Anshuman Gaekwad contributed 33 runs and Sunil Gavaskar 26 runs. Sri Lanka got Test playing status in 1981.
2. Australia also became a victim
Australia vs Zimbabwe: In World Cup 1983, Zimbabwe, another non-test playing team, pulled off a huge upset by defeating Australia. The Australian team at the time featured stars like Kim Hughes, Alan Border, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, while Zimbabwe entered the World Cup for the first time. In the match, Zimbabwe scored 239 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 60 overs with the help of captain Duncan Fletcher’s 69 runs, in response to which the Australian team could only score 226 runs for seven wickets in 60 overs and lost the match by 13 runs. going on.
3. Kenya made a big bang
West Indies vs Kenya: Cricket fans had no expectations from the Kenyan team who played the World Cup for the first time in 1996. But he made a big splash by beating the two-time champions West Indies by a huge margin of 73 runs. The Kenyan team made a small score of 166 runs in the match. In reply, the Indian team equipped with stars like Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Shivnarayan Chanderpaul was bowled out for 93 runs.
4. Bangladesh hunted Pakistan
Pakistan vs Bangladesh: ‘Entry’ in the World Cup in 1999, Bangladesh created a stir by defeating the 1992 World Champions Pakistan by 62 runs. In the match, against the fast bowling trio of Waqar, Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, the Bangladesh team scored 223 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 50 overs and then bundled out the Pakistan team for 161 runs. However, the match was also accused of fixing.
5. Even Sri Lanka was not spared from the upheaval
Sri Lanka vs Kenya: In World Cup 2003, Kenya shocked everyone by reaching the semi-finals. However, the team also gained a points advantage during this period, as New Zealand boycotted the match on its home soil. During their World Cup campaign, Kenya beat 1996 champions Sri Lanka by 53 runs. Batting first, Kenya scored 210 runs and later bowled out Sri Lanka for 157 runs in 45 overs.
6. Ireland beat Pakistan
Pakistan vs Ireland: In the World Cup 2007, the Asian superpowers, Pakistan and India were eliminated at the group stage. Ireland shocked everyone by defeating Pakistan by three wickets. In the match, Pakistan was bowled out for just 132 runs, the target of 133 runs was achieved by Ireland with the loss of seven wickets after struggling.
7. India lost to Bangladesh
India vs Bangladesh: Another upset in World Cup 2007 was India’s 5-wicket defeat at the hands of Bangladesh. In the match, the Indian team was bowled out for 191 runs in 49.3 overs. Mashrafe Mortaza took the most wickets with four. Bangladesh achieved this score for the loss of 5 wickets thanks to half-centuries from Tamim Iqbal (51), Mushfiqur Rahim (56 not out) and Shakib Al Hasan (53).
8. Ireland’s second blast, beat England
England vs Ireland: In the high-scoring match of the World Cup 2011, Ireland created a huge upset by defeating the mighty England by 3 wickets. In this match, England made a huge score of 327 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs, which the Irish team successfully crossed due to Kevin O’Brien’s brilliant innings of 113 runs.
9. The Africa proved to be bran again
South Africa vs Bangladesh: In the 2019 tournament, Bangladesh showed their strength by defeating South Africa by 21 runs. In the match, Bangladesh posted a mammoth score of 330 runs in 50 overs with the help of Shakib Al Hasan’s 75 and Mushfiqur Rahim’s 78 and later bowled out South Africa for 309 with star players like Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and David Miller. was limited to runs.
As for the World Cup 2023 to be held in India, ‘underrated’ teams like Afghanistan and Netherlands can shock the big teams with their performances.
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Tags: Pakistan, Team India, World Cup 2023, World Cup Memory
First published: August 21, 2023, 12:57 IST