ODI Cricket World Cup — Records, Winners, and Key Moments
A complete guide to the ODI Cricket World Cup — every winner, records, standout performances, and the moments that defined each edition.
World Cup Winners — All Editions
Australia are the most successful ODI World Cup nation, having won five titles (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015). West Indies won the first two editions (1975, 1979). India won in 1983 (the greatest World Cup upset of its era) and 2011 (the first World Cup win on home soil). Sri Lanka won in 1996; Pakistan in 1992; England in 2019.
Batting Records
Sachin Tendulkar holds multiple World Cup batting records, including most runs in a single tournament (673 in 2003) and most career runs (2,278 across six editions). Rohit Sharma holds the record for most centuries in a single World Cup (5 in 2019). Gary Kirsten scored 188* against UAE in 1996, which remained a World Cup batting record for many years.
Bowling Records
Glenn McGrath is the leading wicket-taker in World Cup history with 71 wickets across four tournaments. His ability to take wickets at critical moments — dismissing key batsmen in knockout matches — made him the most impactful World Cup bowler of his generation. Mitchell Starc holds the record for the fastest World Cup delivery and most wickets in a single 2015 edition.
Greatest World Cup Finals
The 2019 World Cup final at Lord's — England vs New Zealand — finished as a tie in both regulation (241 each) and Super Over. England won on the countback of boundaries. It remains the most dramatic World Cup final in history. The 2011 final saw India's 6-wicket win at Wankhede, with MS Dhoni's match-winning six becoming one of cricket's most iconic images.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has won the most Cricket World Cups?
Australia have won the most ODI Cricket World Cups — five in total (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015). West Indies (1975, 1979) are the second most successful with two titles.
When was the first Cricket World Cup?
The first Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1975. West Indies beat Australia in the final at Lord's, with Clive Lloyd scoring a match-winning century.
What was the most dramatic World Cup final?
The 2019 World Cup final between England and New Zealand at Lord's is widely considered the most dramatic. It finished tied on 241 runs each in regulation and tied again in the Super Over — England won by virtue of hitting more boundaries in the match.