IND Vs AUS Final: India's Track Record In Cricket World Cup Title Clashes Over The Years

If you grew up watching cricket in India in the 1990s or before, you can't help but feel a wave of catharsis pass through you this time. You realize that India and Australia will be locking horns in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup, and you won't automatically fear the worst. You might, in fact, consider India as the favourites going into the mouth-watering title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, November 19, 2023.  (Match Blog | Scorecard | Streaming | Key Battles | Preview)

There is absolutely no doubt that the Rohit Sharma-led India have been a cut above the rest in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 thus far, and are the stronger team on paper. The Aussies have peaked in the business end of the tournament and are showing their fangs right when it matters, notching up eight back-to-back wins in the process. The wins have been punctuated by some stirring individual performances, none more striking than Glenn Maxwell's astonishing double century against a shell-shocked Afghanistan.

But they are up against an Indian side that has looked almost invincible in its 10-match unbeaten campaign. The hosts have covered themselves in glory on all fronts, with every department - batting, bowling, wicket-keeping, fielding - clicking so far. While the pacers have delighted everyone watching and inspired unprecedented confidence, the batters - led by a majestic Virat Kohli who has scaled the 50th ODI century peak - have piled up the runs on demand.    

ALSO READ: Virat Kohli Fuelling India's Ambition

Which means that the current crop is unlikely to be burdened by the baggage of history as it takes the field for the marquee clash. If things go nearly as well as they have in the tournament so far for India, one can expect euphoria and a flood of emotions all across the country for what would be the national team's third ODI World Cup triumph in its fourth title clash appearance. With that, let's take a look at India's track record in the Cricket World Cup finals over the years.

1983: India Defeated West Indies By 43 Runs
It's the evergreen underdog story. The watershed moment in Indian cricket history that sparked off a revolution of sorts in the ecosystem. India's conquest over the formidable West Indies at Lord's on June 25, 1983 will forever be preserved in cricket annals as an extraordinary moment of grit begetting glory. Coming into the tournament, India were given no shot at the title by experts. Even them making it to the final came as a huge shocks to most.

On top of that, Kapil Dev's 'Devils' were taking on the mighty West Indies, who were seeking their third trophy on the trot. Things did not begin well for India, who were all out for a below-par total of 183 in 54.4 overs. But they somehow summoned the skills and strength to dismiss a West Indies batting lineup starring the legendary Vivian Richards, Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Larry Gomes and captain Clive Lloyd to a paltry score of 140. The scarcely believable result transformed cricket as we knew it, and kickstarted the process of the control being shifted away from the traditional power centres of England and Australia.

2003: India Lost To Australia By 125 Runs 
This is the one that stings. The 2003 World Cup final at Johannesburg is the haunting memory that Indian cricket fans can't forget even if they tried. A Sourav Ganguly-led India had had a glorious run in the tournament, losing just two games before the final. But one of those two losses were against Ricky Ponting's indomitable Australia, who gave the Men In Blue a pasting in the final too.      

Australia piled on the pressure from the word go, as destructive opener Adam Gilchrist carted Zaheer Khan for 15 runs in the first over. Ponting then conjured a fantastic unbeaten knock of 140 runs off just 121 balls to propel the Aussies to a daunting total of 359/2. A chase like this needed a slambang start but that didn't happen as Sachin Tendulkar departed early to Glenn McGrath, as India folded for a total of 234. Virender Sehwag was the lone warrior as he scored 82 runs off 81, and current head coach Rahul Dravid played a supporting hand with 47 in 57. But it was not nearly enough, and the Indian dreams of a second title came crashing down.

2011: India Defeated Sri Lanka By 6 Wickets       
The wait to lift the hallowed trophy again after the unprecedented triumph of 1983 finally ended on April 2, 2011, and pent-up emotions burst like a dam. Nobody slept that night, certainly none of the Indians involved. It was Tendulkar's last World Cup outing and all his teammates wanted to make it special for him with a title triumph - a first for the 'Master Blaster'. 

Stylish Sri Lanka batter Mahela Jayawardene hit a quick-fire unbeaten century to lead his side to a challenging total of 274/6. The Indian chase got off to the worst possible start, with both Sehwag and Tendulkar falling early. But opener Gautam Gambhir and a then young Virat Kohli led the recovery, compiling 83 runs for the third wicket. Gambhir then had a 109-run partnership with captain MS Dhoni which put India on top. 

Gambhir fell three short of a ton but Dhoni, in Ravi Shastri's immortal words, "finished it off in style". The Wankhede Stadium was host to an unforgettable culmination of an incredible campaign, which saw India lifting the ODI World Cup again after 28 long years.