Bowlers To Take First Wicket For India In Every ODI World Cup

image-lnip10gxKapil Dev gifted India their first wicket in 1979 and 1992 World Cups (x.com)

At cricket’s grandest stage, the ODI World Cup, the first wicket of any team’s opening match assumes a profound significance. It is the initial burst of the tournament’s crescendo, an event that sets the tone and rhythm for the rest of their campaign.

From the inaugural 1975 edition to the latest World Cup chapter in 2023, India’s pursuit of ultimate glory in each installment has been marked by the finesse and skill of its bowlers. Some fortunate among them have seized the pivotal moment of claiming the first wicket in their team’s opening match, thereby laying a sturdy cornerstone for their journey through the tournament.

Here at OneCricket, we look back at all bowlers who provided Team India their initial breakthrough upfront in each World Cup edition, from 1975 to 2023.


Bowlers to take first wickets in every World Cup for India (1975-2023)


1. Mohinder Amarnath, 1975 World Cup

image-lnipz3s2Mohinder Amarnath (x.com)

In the opening match of the inaugural ODI World Cup back in 1975, India’s ardent cricket enthusiasts had to patiently bide their time for nearly an hour before new-ball pacer Mohinder Amarnath trapped then English opener John Jameson for 21. By the time of his dismissal, Jameson had already formed a 54-run stand with Dennis Amiss, a partnership which signaled England’s massive 202-run win at Lord’s.


2. Kapil Dev, 1979 World Cup

image-lniq0jf7Kapil Dev in his classical action (x.com)

For the second time in succession, Team India launched their World Cup proceedings in the opening match of the tournament itself, albeit this time against a different opponent, West Indies. Shielding a mere 191 against the defending champions, Kapil Dev got his side their first breakthrough by trapping Desmond Haynes in front of stumps for 47. 

Unfortunately for India, Dev’s spirited effort marked his team’s lone moment of joy on the field in Birmingham that day as they endured a nine-wicket larruping at the hands of West Indies.


3. Balwinder Sandhu, 1983 World Cup

In India’s opening match of the 1983 World Cup in Manchester, new-ball paceman Balwinder Sandhu cleaned up legendary West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge shortly after a well-set Desmond Haynes ran himself out. This wicket held a profound significance, as it not only set the stage for India’s victory in their opening game for once but also established the momentum that ultimately led to India’s historic World Cup triumph.


4. Ravi Shastri, 1987 World Cup

Facing Australia in Chennai back in 1987, with a defending champions tag no less, India’s high-flying bowling attack was instantly humbled by Geoff Marsh and David Boon with their scintillating 110-run opening partnership. Ravi Shastri eventually broke through their defiant stand by trapping Boon in front of stumps, however, his breakthrough occurred a little-too-late for his side as they ended up losing their tournament opener.




5. Kapil Dev, 1992 World Cup

The Indians, led by Mohammad Azharuddin, and the Englishmen squared off at the WACA in 1992 to launch their respective World Cup campaigns in Australia. India’s pace legend Kapil Dev gifted his side their initial breakthrough by nicking Ian Botham back at wicketkeeper. 

However, the rest of the bowlers failed to capitalize on their early success as England went on to chart a competitive match-winning total.



6. Venkatesh Prasad, 1996 World Cup

image-lniqb12eVenkatesh Prasad (x.com)

India’s speed gun Venkatesh Prasad nicked Kenyan opener Dipak Chudasama for 29 upfront, while Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju tightened things up from their ends to restrict the visitors for just 199 in their 1996 World Cup bout in Cuttack.

Prasad’s early burst proved pivotal as it set the tone of a huge Indian win, underpinned by Kumble’s three-fer and Sachin Tendulkar’s majestic 127*.



7. Javagal Srinath, 1999 World Cup

India’s new-ball speedster from the 1999 World Cup, Javagal Srinath, accounted for South Africa’s first two wickets of the game in Hove. Srinath dismissed Herschelle Gibbs before cleaning up Gary Kirsten to dismantle Proteas top-order at 22-2. However, the Indians overall failed to contain South Africa’s run-chase rampage as they hunted down India’s 253 with nearly three overs still intact in the game.




8. Javagal Srinath, 2003 World Cup

For the second time in succession, Javagal Srinath kicked-off India’s World Cup proceedings with an early wicket in their opening fixture. Facing Netherlands in Paarl at the 2003 event, and defending a paltry 205, the speed demon packed then Dutch opener Feiko Kloppenburg for a duck in the first over and eventually finished the innings with a match-winning 4-30.


9. Zaheer Khan, 2007 World Cup

With a new ball in hand, Zaheer Khan led India’s spirit bowling effort against Bangladesh in their 2007 World Cup opening Group B game in Port of Spain. The speedster trapped Shahriar Nafees when the latter failed to offer a shot early in the innings to give India their first breakthrough.

Khan’s spell, however, merely delayed the inevitable as Bangladesh cantered themselves to an easy run-chase win to crash India out of the competition within the opening round itself.


10. Munaf Patel, 2011 World Cup

image-lniq6qqtMunaf Patel was India's unsung hero from WC 2011 (x.com)

Facing Bangladesh in the opening match for the second time in succession at a World Cup, the Indian bowlers took field with a more confident approach this time around as they were defending a colossal 371 in Mirpur. Munaf Patel cleaned up Bangladeshi opener Imrul Kayes following the latter’s 56-run stand with Tamim Iqbal.

The speedster, meanwhile, claimed three additional wickets on the evening to finish with 4-48 as India scripted a remarkable 87-run win. The match also marked the tipping point of India’s victorious run at home, one which ended their 28-year-old title drought.



11. Mohammed Shami, 2015 World Cup

Mohammed Shami cramped Younis Khan for room with a ferocious bouncer in the Pakistani run-chase to give India an early wicket against their arch-rivals in Adelaide. The speedster eventually finished with 4-35, while the ‘Men in Blue’ prevailed in the contest by 76 runs.


12. Jasprit Bumrah, 2019 World Cup

Tight length from Jasprit Bumrah and sharp slip fielding from Rohit Sharma ensured Team India saw Hashim Amla’s back early in their first 2019 World Cup outing at Southampton. Bumrah’s early breakthrough confined South Africa into a defensive mode as 227 was all they could manage upfront.

Rohit Sharma’s thunderous ton in the run-chase sealed the deal for his side as India romped home with six wickets and 15 balls in the bank.



13. Jasprit Bumrah, 2023 World Cup

image-lnip6yqlJasprit Bumrah celebrates Mitchell Marsh wicket in 2023 World Cup (x.com)

Much like the 2019 edition, Jasprit Bumrah also dismissed a rival opener inside his opening spell of India’s first match of the 2023 edition in Chennai. This time the speed maverick entrapped Mitchell Marsh with his pace for a duck, and was ably assisted with sharp fielding from Virat Kohli.

Team India went on to win the match comfortably, thus signaling a confident start to their run at home.