While cricket is merely a game for most nations around the world, it is the passion of millions in India. Some of the lush expectations from the Indian cricket team include the task of winning the World Cup. The Indian triumphs in the World Cup have not only held a power to bring joy to its citizens but have also rewarded it with a historical status in cricket. World Cup Victories by India India has won the Cricket World Cup twice. These are celebrated as landmarks of the country's cricketing history. Following is the detailed guide on India's Journey in the history of ICC Cricket World Cup. First World Cup Victory: 1983 Image Source: Times Applaud This first World Cup victory came to India in 1983. This was an era when cricket was being ruled by teams like the West Indies and Australia. India, under the leadership of Kapil Dev, was rated as an underdog for the tournament. However, the team defied all odds and emerged victorious. In the final, India met mighty West Indies. India's chances looked thin after being bowled out for 183 runs. However, Indian bowlers put up a great performance with the help of Mohinder Amarnath and Madan Lal. The latter bowled out the West Indies for 140 runs to clear the path for victory. This victory is remembered for Kapil Dev's great catch by dismissing Vivian Richards; this turned out to be a turning point in that match. Also Read | Everything You Need to Know About Overs in Test Cricket The Second World Cup Victory: 2011 Image Source: India Today The second win of the World Cup came in 2011. This time, India was co-hosting the tournament together with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. An intense battle among itself, the team led by MS Dhoni was one of the hot favorites that made it to the finals. The final was at Wankhede Stadium in the city of Mumbai against Sri Lanka. India lost some early wickets while chasing the target of 275, but Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni set things right. The unbeaten innings of Dhoni, 91, including the winning six, is etched forever in the memories of every Indian cricket enthusiast. This victory ended a 28-year wait and was a fitting farewell to Tendulkar, who was playing in his last World Cup. Impact of World Cup Wins on Indian Cricket Image Source: The Quint The Wins in 1983 and 2011 have a deep impact on Indian cricket. The win in 1983 was the one that raised the next generation/howling bloodhounds of young cricketers into the game as effectively as it got more popularity for the sport in India. The Indian team's win in 2011 proved to the entire world that the country had become an unstoppable force in the game. These wins have also motivated the youngsters to turn cricketers. Cricket academies have mushroomed all across the country, and more children than ever before are taking up the bat and ball. Also Read | Fastest ODI Centuries by Indian Players: Top 10 Blazing Innings India's Performance in World Cup Over the Years Image Source: Times Now News The ups and downs which India witnessed in other World Cups have been plenty. After the 1983 win, the team made it to the semis in 1987 and 1996. In 2003, led by Sourav Ganguly, though the team made it to the finals, they also succumbed against Australia. In 2007, India failed to make into the super 8. Many things changed after the exit of Indian team from in the 2007 World Cup. Leadership was transfered to MS Dhoni which resulted into many positive outcomes. MS Dhoni Led Team India lifted the trophy at their own backyard in 2011 by defeating the mighty Sri Lanka in the finals at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The Indian team performed consistently well in both the 2015 and 2019 World Cups and reached the semis in both tournaments. These performances keep the hopes of Indian fans alive for further triumphs in the future. Cricket World Cup 2023 was the tournament where the team and the fans were confident enough to get their hands on the trophy. The team led by Rohit Sharma reached the finals without losing even a single game. In the finals, Australia crushed the hopes of India by defeating the Men in Blue at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. List of India's World Cup Wins and Achievements Image Source: India Today India's record in the ICC Cricket World Cup has been good, having won it twice. The first came in the year 1983 when the Indian team, under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, beat West Indies to win it for the very first time in history. The second was in the 2011 edition of this tournament, when Captain MS Dhoni led from the front to win the Cup on their own soil against Sri Lanka in the Final. In addition to their two World Cup wins, India has also reached the final of the tournament twice more, in 2003 and 2023, losing that to Australia on both the occassions. India has always fielded some sort of strong contender in World Cup tournaments, and this has been matched by a zealous fan base combined with a talented pool of players. Their performances during the World Cup have been able to cement their position as one of the powerhouses in the cricketing world. Indian players have created many records in the ICC Cricket World Cup over the years. Following are some of the notable achievements and records of Indian Team and Players. Champions: 1983 and 2011 India's Biggest Win Margin in World Cup: 302 against Sri Lanka Most Centuries in ODI World Cup: 7 (Rohit Sharma) Most Runs in ICC Cricket World Cup: 2278 ( Sachin Tendulkar) Most Sixes in World Cups: 54 (Rohit Sharma) Most Fours in ODI Cricket World Cup: 241 (Sachin Tendulkar) Most Century in a single edition: 5 (Rohit Sharma in 2019) Most Runs in a single edition: 765 (Virat Kohli in 2023) Man of the tournament in 1983: Mohinder Amarnath Man of the tournament in 2003: Sachin Tendulkar Man of the tournament in 2011: Sachin Tendulkar Man of the tournament in 2023: Virat Kohli Most Wickets in 1983 WC: 18 (Roger Binny) Most Wickets in 1996 WC: 15 (Anil Kumble) Most Wickets in 2023 WC: 24 (Mohammed Shami) Conclusion The journey of the Cricket World Cup has been a roller-coaster ride for India, with some great moments and gigantic accomplishments. The wins in 1983 and 2011 have been pointers that dictated the future of cricket in India. While the country looks forward to the upcoming World Cups, the passion and support of the fans remain the same, hoping for more trophies to be added to the legacy of Indian cricket. Also Read | Who is the God of T20 Cricket? Discover the Legend!