India Cricket Team in the 1979 Cricket World Cup
India played in the second Cricket World Cup in England in 1979 but failed to win a single match, losing all three group games. Led by Srinivas Venkataraghavan, it was a forgettable campaign — but it featured the World Cup debut of two future legends: Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar's continued presence.
Campaign Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| vs West Indies, Birmingham | Lost by 9 wickets |
| vs New Zealand, Nottingham | Lost by 8 wickets |
| vs Sri Lanka, Manchester | Lost by 47 runs |
The Squad
| Player | Note |
|---|---|
| Srinivas Venkataraghavan (c) | Captain, off-spinner |
| Sunil Gavaskar | Opener |
| Gundappa Viswanath | Batsman |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | Young batsman |
| Kapil Dev | 20-year-old all-rounder, World Cup debut |
| Roger Binny | Bowler |
| Karsan Ghavri | Bowler |
Kapil's Debut
The 1979 World Cup was Kapil Dev's first. Aged 20, he showed glimpses of the all-round brilliance that would win India the trophy four years later. Few could have predicted what was coming in 1983.
The Sri Lanka Defeat
The loss to Sri Lanka — then an associate nation — was a particular embarrassment. It showed how far Indian one-day cricket had to go, making the 1983 triumph all the more remarkable in hindsight.
Who captained India in the 1979 World Cup?
Srinivas Venkataraghavan captained India in the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
Did India win any match in the 1979 World Cup?
No, India lost all three group matches in the 1979 World Cup.
Rivcky John
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