Top 5 iconic moments in history of ODI World Cup

The World Cup is almost a week away, and many teams have already reached India. With Pakistan and New Zealand reaching the country on Wednesday midnight. They were welcomed in grand fashion in India. Both teams have already started their practice in Hyderabad and the teams are ready to face each other in a warm-up game at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

The World Cup began back in the year 1975 when the governing body of cricket recognised the growth of the game in the early 1960s. West Indies won the first two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979 and they were finally defeated by India in 1983 at the Lord's Cricket Ground.

After the first three editions were held in the English contingent, it first moved out of England in 1987, with India and Pakistan being the co-hosts. With T20 cricket coming in, some fans have reduced watching ODIs nowadays, as they only want their batters to hit boundaries and believe ODI cricket to be boring as well.

The upcoming World Cup 2023 will be the 13th edition of the tournament. The marquee event has had some memorable moments in the history of the game. Let us take a look at the top 5 moments of it.

Here are the top 5 moments in ODI World Cup history

5. Klusener-Donald run-out in the semi-final vs Australia (1999)   

(Source - Twitter)

This was a massacre in the semi-final. The Proteas have been always struck by mishaps in major events, whether it is the agonizing 1992 World Cup semi-final loss in England against Australia or the 2003 Duckworth-Lewis method which saw them get out against Sri Lanka.

In the 1999 World Cup South Africa needed nine runs with one wicket remaining. With Lance Klusner and pacer Alan Donald present at the crease. Klusener on strike hit back-to-back fours with one needed, off three balls Donald was run out and the Aussies qualified for the final due to their standings in the Super Six stage.

4. Lasith Malinga’s four from four, vs South Africa (2007) 

(Source - Twitter)

In the Super Eight match Sri Lanka was facing South Africa. Proteas' win over the Lankans appeared to be just formality in Providence Stadium, Guyana. While chasing 210 the South Africans were 206/5 in the 45th over. With Jacques Kallis in the crease.

Lasith Malinga came to bowl in the 46th over producing something brilliant with the ball and won the match for Sri Lanka. The pacer took four wickets in each of the four deliveries, making him the first player to do so in international cricket and World Cup as well.

3. Kapil Dev's running catch vs West Indies, (1983) 

(Source - Twitter)

India probably won the World Cup with this catch of Kapil Dev which dismissed Sir Vivian Richards in the final of the 1983 World Cup final. He was scoring quickly and made a quick 33 runs and was taking the game away from India.

The batter pulled a bowl of Madan Lal towards deep midwicket, and the former India skipper ran to take the catch and completed it successfully, which led the Windies to reduce to 57/3. From there India who were considered the underdogs went on to win the World Cup. Mohinder Amarnath was named the player of the match for his superb bowling spell of 3/12.

2. Ben Stokes's accidental deflection vs New Zealand (2019) 

(Source - Twitter)

England met New Zealand in the final of the 2019 World Cup. Ben Stokes, played a brilliant inning to provide his country with their maiden World Cup title. He was also adjudged as the hero of the match for his 84-run inning. England won the World Cup on boundary count.

A controversial moment happened in the final. Stokes dived to complete a second run in a tense final over. A throw from the deep struck his outstretched bat and raced to the boundary. The game got tied in the initial match and at the super overs England won with that single boundary count which was controversially given to them.

1. MS Dhoni six vs Sri Lanka, (2011) 

(Source - Twitter)

India played Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup. India won the World Cup and became the first team to win the prestigious trophy at home. They were crowned as World Champions for only the second time in their history and won the tournament after 28 years.

Batting first Sri Lanka post 274/6. India was in deep trouble when Lasith Malinga removed both Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag. Gautam Gambhir played the knock of the final, under pressure, and ended up scoring 97 runs. But Dhoni who remained unbeaten at 91 runs took away the limelight with the match-winning six when 4 runs were needed.