A look at India’s ODI performances in the series immediately preceding World Cups
Many fans are eagerly looking forward to seeing how India performs in the ongoing Carlton Mid Tri-Series, expecting the series to set the tone for how the team would fare in the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The poor start to the tournament, which has seen the side crash to consecutive defeats to Australia and England, has raised question marks on the team’s chances of defending the World Cup title that they won in 2011.But if history is any proof, then India’s performance in the ODI series preceding a World Cup has almost always never reflected in India’s show in the sport’s pinnacle event. But the tri-series does give India a chance to acclimatize to the conditions in Australia, one of the co-hosts, something which the team hasn’t always had the fortune of getting.Here’s a look at India’s performance in the ODI series just prior to the World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1975 and how it compares to India’s eventual showing in the World Cup:
#1 1975 World Cup
Preceding ODI Series: Prudential Trophy – England vs India in July 1974
Result: India lost the 2-match ODI series 0-2
India made their ODI bow with the Prudential Trophy against England in July 1974. While the first World Cup was held almost a year after this series, India didn’t play any ODIs in between the two events.
India had become a force to reckon with in Test cricket, but this relatively new limited-overs format of cricket didn’t suit the team, and unsurprisingly, they lost both the ODIs in the series. The team batted first in both matches, which were 55 overs per side, and the English chased down the targets each time fairly easily. There were fighting knocks by Brijesh Patel, Ajit Wadekar and Ashok Mankad while Eknath Solkar was tidy with the ball.
It didn’t surprise many when India made an unceremonious exit after the group stage in the 1975 World Cup, with only one win over minnows East Africa during the tournament.
India’s performance in the WC: Eliminated after the Group Stages