20 shocking and interesting facts about the Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup !

Below facts highlight the drama, records, and unique occurrences that have defined the history of the Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup !

Bhakti Kanta
15th Sep’24

1. First ODI World Cup in 1975: The first-ever Cricket World Cup was held in 1975 in England, and all matches were played in traditional white clothing and red balls, with 60 overs per side.
2. Rain-Affected Finals: In 1992, rain rules played a crucial role in the semi-final between England and South Africa. After a rain delay, South Africa needed 22 runs from 13 balls, but after recalculating, they bizarrely needed 21 runs from 1 ball due to the rain rule in place.
3. Only Tie in a World Cup Final (2019): The 2019 final between England and New Zealand ended in a tie even after the Super Over. England won the World Cup based on the boundary count rule, a controversial decision.
4. Kapil Dev’s 175 Knock*: Kapil Dev’s iconic 175* against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup was never broadcasted due to a BBC strike. It’s one of the most famous unseen cricket innings.
5. Most World Cup Wins by a Team: Australia holds the record for the most ICC Cricket World Cup titles, with 6 victories (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023).
6. Sachin Tendulkar’s Records: Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in World Cup history, scoring 2,278 runs in 44 matches across 6 tournaments from 1992 to 2011.
7. First Hat-Trick in World Cup: The first-ever hat-trick in a World Cup was taken by Chetan Sharma of India against New Zealand in 1987.
8. Australia’s Unbeaten Streak: Australia went undefeated in 29 consecutive World Cup matches between 1999 and 2011, the longest winning streak in World Cup history.
9. Gary Gilmour’s Amazing Spell: In the 1975 semi-final, Australia’s Gary Gilmour took 6 wickets for just 14 runs, one of the best bowling performances in World Cup history.
10. Fastest Fifty in World Cup: Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest fifty in a World Cup match, scoring it in just 18 balls against England in 2015.
11. Team Scoring Over 400: South Africa was the first team to score over 400 runs in a World Cup match, posting 418/5 against Zimbabwe in 2015.
12. Bangladesh Knocked India Out in 2007: Bangladesh shocked India by defeating them in the group stage of the 2007 World Cup, causing India to be eliminated in the first round.
13. West Indies’ Dominance: The West Indies won the first two World Cups (1975 and 1979) and were considered invincible during that period.
14. Jonty Rhodes’ Flying Run-Out: Jonty Rhodes produced one of the most memorable moments of the 1992 World Cup, flying through the air to run out Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq.
15. Ireland’s Shock Upset: Ireland stunned the cricketing world by defeating England in the 2011 World Cup, with Kevin O’Brien scoring the fastest century in World Cup history (50 balls).
16. Biggest Winning Margin: Australia defeated Netherlands by 309 runs in the 2023 World Cup, the biggest margin of victory in World Cup history.
17. India’s 2011 Win at Home: India became the first team to win a World Cup on home soil in 2011, defeating Sri Lanka in the final.
18. Lasith Malinga’s Four in Four: In 2007, Lasith Malinga took four wickets in four consecutive deliveries against South Africa, the first-ever bowler to achieve this in World Cup history.
19. First World Cup Century: The first century in World Cup history was scored by England’s Dennis Amiss in the inaugural World Cup in 1975.
20. Sri Lanka’s Cinderella Run in 1996: Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup, becoming the first team to win the title after hosting part of the tournament and also being the first host nation to win.