Since the World Cup in the One Day format started in 1975, Team India have participated in all of them. While the the 1975 and 1979 were the forgettable World Cups for India, the side did better in latter events , winning the World Cup twice.
Below is the list of how many time Team India have reached the semi-final stage and going on to lift the title in two of them and reaching the final once.
1983 Prudential World Cup
No one had expected the team to reach the last four, forget winning the Title. But Team India had differnt plans. Having won just one match in the World Cup before 1983 the side was looking to make a turnaround and improve the record. While at one stage India had to struggle to qualify for the semi final at one stage, the marvellous knock of 175 runs by Kapil Dev when India was 17/5 against Zimbabwe at one stage, set the tone for India’s victory march, india not only stunned England in semi final but stunned the mighty West Indies by 43 runs in the final.
1987 Reliance World Cup
India was looking to retain the title this year. With England setting the title of 255 runs to win, India were all out for 219 runs. While at one stage, England was 79/2, Graham Gooch and his skipper Mike Gatting then went on to build the partnership of 117 runs in 19 runs. Gooch himself scored 115 runs from 136 balls that included 11 boundaries. In reply hosts India started badly having lost three wickets for 73 runs at one stage. It was then that Mohammed Azharuddin somehow resurrected the innings having scored 64 runs from 74 balls which included seven fours. However he was soon declared leg before off the bowling of Eddie Hemmings. After his departure, team Indiwas eventually bowled out setting a stage for England-Austrlia final.
1996 Wills World Cup
This World Cup is remembered for the unruly behaviour of the Calcutta (now Kolkata) crowd. Every Indian was forced to hang his/her head in shame after crowd started throwing water bottles at the stadium as India was struggling to win the semi-final match. Chasing target of 253 runs, India was struggling at 120/8 at one stage, after which the match was awarded to Sri Lanka due to pathetic behaviour of the fans.
2003 World Cup
Hosted by South Africa, Sourav Ganguly’s men did well to reach the final of the World Cup in Johannesburg. However, a superb knock of 140 runs by skipper Ricking Pinting and 88 runs by Demien Martyn forced India forced India to chase the target of 360 runs. Team India was bowled out for 234 runs.
2011 World Cup
This was the second time that India had won the World Cup after 1983. Facing Sri Lanka in the final at the Wnakhede stadium in Mumbai, India was set the target of 275 runs, Men in Blue chased the target with 10 balls to spare. With Gautam Gambhir score 97 runs in the funal skipper Mahendra Dhoni also score 91 runs.
2015 World Cup
While team India was one of the favourities to win the title this time too, Men in Blue went on to reach the semifinal, going on to lose the match by 95 runs. Chasing target of 329 runs,Team India was all out for 233 runs. Skipper Dhoni topscored with 65 runs for his side.
2019 World Cup
In a rain affected semi-final match Team India did well to restrict New Zealand for 239 runs. However, Virat Kohli’s men were all out for 221 runs. Only Dhoni (50 runs) and Ravindra Jadeja (77 runs) helped India to put some fight in the match.