When discussing leadership roles in Indian cricket history, the conversation inevitably turns to MS Dhoni and his impact as a captain. His tenure as India's captain (2007-2017) saw the golden days of not only reaching the finals but also tasting victory.

The "Captain Cool" led India to an impressive 4 ICC Finals and secured a win in 3 of them. He is the only Indian captain to win all 3: the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy in his career.

Here we bring you MS Dhoni's captaincy record in ICC Finals:

2007 T20 World Cup: Kicking off with a win

The 2007 T20 World Cup marked a significant moment in Indian cricket, not just for their inaugural win, but for the beginning of MS Dhoni's captaincy era. Having stepped into the leadership role for the very first time in the tournament, he led a relatively inexperienced squad and brought victory home.

Throughout the season, he guided the team with a calm approach and showed tactical brilliance with his choices in high-pressure situations. In the final against Pakistan, his main impact was behind the stumps, making great choices.

In a tense last over, with PAK needing 13 runs and Misbah-ul-Haq at the crease, he made a bold move by handing the ball to Joginder Sharma, who lacked experience. This tactical gamble paid off brilliantly when Misbah attempted a scoop shot and was caught by Sreesanth, securing India a 5-run victory.

Read Also: 10 Forgotten Indian Cricketers and Their Stories

2011 ODI World Cup: A nation's dream

The 2011 ODI World Cup Final against Sri Lanka on home soil is something the fans will remember for a long time. After a challenging target of 275 runs set by SL, India's chase collapsed early as they lost key wickets of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar.

Dhoni chose to promote himself to bat at no. 5 and formed a crucial partnership with Gautam Gambhir. He scored an unbeaten 91 runs and sealed the victory with a majestic six, bringing home India's second WC title after 28 years.

He was also named player of the match for his batting and wicket-keeping contribution. After this victory, he became the second Indian captain, after Kapil Dev in 1983, to lead India to a World Cup triumph.

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

2013 Champions Trophy: Completing the set

The 2013 Champions Trophy saw Dhoni complete the set with a 5-run victory over England in the Final. India successfully defended a low total of 130 runs in the second half, showcasing great bowling efforts from the unit.

Talking about Dhoni's performance, he could not do much with the bat like many other players, and went out for a duck. However, his agility behind the stumps and ball rotation choices did the trick well for them.

With this victory, India achieved their second Champions Trophy title.

Read Also: ICC tournaments hosted by India – History & Highlights

2014 T20 World Cup: Runners-up finish

In the 2014 T20 World Cup, India showed a dominant form and reached the finals with an unbeaten record. Despite Virat Kohli's great efforts (77 runs off 58 balls), India struggled with the bat overall, posting a total of 130/4. Dhoni scored 4 runs off 7 balls and failed to accelerate the runs. 

Sri Lanka comfortably chased he target to clinch their first T20 World Cup title. Although India lost, it was MS Dhoni's second T20 World Cup Final as a captain, which highlights his consistent presence and contribution in major ICC clashes.

Getting an Indian team call up for any cricketer in India is a lot more difficult than debuting for another country. Because the game of bat and ball is so very popular in the sub-continent, almost everyone who instantaneously loves the sport wants to play for the Indian national team.

However, even at the professional level where there are 38 state associations in the BCCI to pick players and choose from, the overall pool of cricketers certainly get not less than any kind of a ginormous realm.

Perhaps even if someone then ascends and climbs up the entire ladder by reaching the national team’s shores, the individual needs to be sharply quick on his feet to fairly come good at its earliest. Otherwise, just like many many other exceptional talents, the player might come in and slip away in a whip.

In this article we will take a look at those forgotten Indian cricketers who just faded away from Indian cricket.

Also Read: ICC tournaments hosted by India – History & Highlights

10. Parvez Rasool

Parvez Rasool, the talented all-rounder from Jammu and Kashmir, made a name for himself during the 2012-13 Ranji season. His exceptional performances earned him recognition and paved the way for IPL contracts and call-ups in 2013. However, his journey in the national team has been a challenging one.

Despite being a skilled off-spinner, Rasool has struggled to break through the defenses of top batsmen. This weakness has also affected his batting abilities, making it difficult for him to contribute significantly to the team's scorecard. As a result, Rasool's last appearance in the Indian cricket team was in 2017.

9. Parvinder Awana

In 2012, the Kings XI Punjab made a wise decision by purchasing Delhi's right-arm bowler, Parvinder Awana, after his impressive performance in the Ranji Trophy season. His ability to bowl accurately and move the ball off the ground earned him a national call-up for the T20 series against England that same year.

Unfortunately, Awana's debut was not as successful as he had hoped. He allowed 71 runs at a high economy of 11.83 in the two games he participated in, resulting in his immediate removal from the team. His struggles continued in the IPL, and since 2015, he has failed to attract any bidders in the auction.

Parvinder Awana announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018.

8. Faiz Fazal

Being well-known as a solid top-order batsman for Vidarbha first-class cricket over the years, Faiz Fazal finally played an India ODI game in the year 2016 against Zimbabwe at Harare. The cricketer, while making his ODI debut, also had become the first Indian player in 16 years who was debuting in his 30s.

However, his India call-up also had come on the back of an excellent domestic season where the left-handed batsman had scored a pile of 714 first class runs at an average of 44.62. Especially his three centuries that also included a match-winning 127 against the Rest of India while chasing 480 had brought him on the selectors’ radar.

Overall, while being the opener did mean that Fazal was in a long queue whose chiefs were the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. Also, unfortunately, Fazal’s name has never been synonymous when it comes to the IPL.

7. Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel played a crucial role in India's victorious 2011 World Cup campaign. The medium-pacer's consistent ability to take wickets and disrupt the opposition's momentum was instrumental in securing the coveted trophy.

However, Patel's fortunes have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. Despite his best efforts to impress selectors and secure an IPL franchise, he has struggled to regain his former glory. In November 2018, he announced his retirement from cricket.

6. Venugopal Rao

Venugopal Rao is a name that may not ring a bell for many cricket enthusiasts, but he is one of the forgotten Indian cricketers who made his international debut in 2005 when skipper Sourav Ganguly was dropped from the team. Rao had an impressive domestic track record while playing for Andhra Pradesh, which earned him his maiden call for the Indian team in 2005-06 when new players were being tested on the international stage.

Rao was a lower middle-order batter and a right-arm off-break bowler. He made some good scores between 2005-06 while playing for the Indian team, but unfortunately, they were not enough to sustain his position in the team. Despite playing a few matches in the IPL, he was never retained by any franchise.

After a career spanning 14 years, Rao decided to hang up his boots in 2019. However, he is nowhere to be seen these days, neither in commentary nor as a coach with any team.

Also Read: Youngest Indian cricketers to score an international century

5. Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar was a famous name of the Indian cricket team, known for his exceptional skills as a medium pacer. However, his state teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar proved to be a tough competition, overshadowing Praveen's ability to generate strong bounce and swing the ball in both directions.

Despite his vast experience, the selectors had to make the tough decision of removing the veteran player due to his recurring injury issues.

Praveen Kumar announced retirement from all forms of cricket in 2018.

4. Mayank Markande

While Mayank Markande, by just being 23 years of age can definitely play a lot more for team India in the future, the leg-spinner as of now has only featured in a single T20I against Australia in 2019. The leg-spinner just before making his India debut was in an exceptional bowling form especially when Markande had played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2018.

During his stay at the MI camp, the leg-spinner had played all 14 IPL games as a premier spinner and had scalped a collection of 15 wickets during the 2018 IPL season. Following his impressive IPL performances, Mayank then did a convincing job for the Punjab team in the 2018-19 season, as from his 6 games, the leggie grabbed a total of 29 wickets.

But then very soon after playing his debut T20I game for India, Markande had an unpleasant outing where he leaked 31 runs without managing to grab a single wicket. Overall, while a single T20I might not be entirely enough to judge his talent, the cricketer ever since then hasn’t exhibited much of his previous match-winning performances.

3. Dinesh Mongia

Dinesh Mongia was part of two World Cups, but he failed to make a mark in both. Having started his international career in 2001, Mongia did score one or two big knocks, like his 159 against Zimbabwe, which also won him the Man of the Match award.

But as a batting allrounder, that was the first and the last century of Mongia. Mongia was also in the playing XI under Sourav Ganguly against Pakistan series in 2005, but again, there were no memorable performances.

After a string of poor performances in 2005, he was dropped from the team. He was suspended by the BCCI in 2008 for appearing in unsanctioned Indian Cricket League (ICL). Though the ban against him was lifted, he was never seen in the Indian team again.

At 42, Mongia announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

2. Joginder Sharma

Remembered for his last over heroics against Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup, Joginder Sharma had the arguably the shortest fame in international cricket. Hardly anyone knew him before that last over from the 2007 World Cup which India won. 

Having made his debut in 2004, the right-arm medium-fast bowler also played few IPL games with the Chennai Super Kings till 2011.

Sharma has played only 4 ODIs and 4 T20Is for India. He had a serious car accident in 2011, and since then he has not played any IPL or international match. He announced his retirement from cricket on February 3, 2023.

He is currently a Deputy Superintendent in Haryana Police.

Also Read: Fastest Indians to score 2000 test runs

1. Murali Karthik

Though the left-arm orthodox bowler didn't have a poor international run, he couldn't get a full-time role as a bowler in the team due to presence of players like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

Karthik made few apperances for the Indian team from 2000 to 2007, but was never a permanent member. In a career spanning 7 years, Karthik appeared in 37 ODIs in which he took 37 wickets, while he took 24 wickets in 8 Test matches

He also played IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab. In all, he played 56 matches in six years and ended his IPL career with 31 wickets. His economy of 7.24, was also a big reason why teams couldn't continue with him.

Karthik announced his retirement from the game in 2021.

Bengal has a deep-rooted passion for cricket, and the IPL offers a great opportunity to have their local talents compete at the highest level. Several players from Bengal were a part of the exciting IPL 2025 season.

Whether through match-winning spells, consistent contribution, or vital innings, their presence was always prominent in the season. Check out the full list and performance of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 along with their on-field impact.

1. Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammed Shami has been a long-standing and key figure in Bengal's domestic cricketing landscape. After being ruled out of the previous IPL season (2024) due to an ankle injury, he made a comeback this year as Sunrisers Hyderabad's key pick and second-highest buy for ₹10 crore.

Shami had a somewhat mixed IPL 2025 season and struggled with consistency and his lengths. After his stellar Purple Cap-winning season in 2023, his 2025 campaign saw him take 6 wickets in 9 matches, with an economy of 11.25.

However, Shami continued to prove his excellence by becoming the only bowler in IPL history to claim a first-ball wicket 4 times. He achieved the fourth one by dismissing Shaik Rasheed in the SRH vs CSK match in the 2025 season.

Shami IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Will Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Manager's hint fuels mega transfer rumours

2. Abishek Porel (Delhi Capitals)

Born in Chandannagar, West Bengal, Abishek Porel is a true local and a proud representative of the state. He was retained for ₹4 crore by Delhi Capitals, where he continued to showcase his brilliance as a wicket-keeper batter.

He began this season with a good pace and proved to be vital by accelerating the run flow when needed. He scored 301 runs in 13 matches, which makes him the second-highest scorer for DC this season.

While his form and the team's overall performance had a slight dip towards the latter part of the tournament, his contributions as a top-order batter were undeniable. He proved that he can adapt to different batting positions and do well.

Porel IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

3. Mukesh Kumar (Delhi Capitals)

Mukesh Kumar is another example of an incredible pacer who plays for Bengal in domestic cricket and has done exceptionally well in the stage of IPL. Following his brilliant 2024 season for DC, he was retained this year for ₹8 crore via RTM (Right to Match).

He proved to be a reliable performer, delivering effective spells in death overs and under pressure. His ability to use variations and bowl yorkers with accuracy made him a key part of the team's bowling unit.

He delivered a standout performance in IPL 2025 against LSG with his 4-wicket haul and great spell, which earned him the POTM award after their victory.

Kumar IPL 2025 stats:

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

4. Akash Deep (Lucknow Super Giants)

Hailing from Bihar, Akash Deep moved to Bengal to pursue cricket and performed well in the domestic field, then later making it to the India 'A' team. In IPL 2025, he was secured by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹8 crore and played 6 matches.

Akash missed some initial games due to a back injury, and later bounced back to showcase a glimpse of his quality and experience as a fast-medium bowler.

There wasn't any particular "game-changing" performance or moment for him this season, but his contributions were a part of LSG's overall bowling efforts.

Akash IPL 2025 stats:

5. Shahbaz Ahmed (Lucknow Super Giants)

A keu all-rounder for Bengal's state team, Shahbaz Ahmed was bought for ₹2.4 crore in the mega auction by Lucknow Super Giants. He played a supporting role in IPL 2025 and provided depth in their squad.

He played only 3 matches, where he came out to bat for a single innings and took 1 wicket in the entire season. While the 2025 season did not see any noteworthy performance, his presence in the squad was enough to back then up and bring flexibility as an all-rounder option.

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

Ahmed IPL 2025 stats:

The ICC cricket World Cup is the second most popular sport event in the world after the FIFA World Cup and Rugby World Cup. The cricket match played in the ICC World Cup between India and Pakistan is always a high voltage match. India always defeated Pakistan in the World Cup match either in the 50 over format or in the T-20 format.

The cricket match between India and Pakistan is the most sought after game in any tournament. Even cricket experts term this game as important as the final of the tournament. Any match between India and Pakistan is a game for the ages, considering the tough lineup of both teams and the relations between the two countries.

Also Read: Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam in ICC tournaments | Details Stats

In this article we will take a look at the head-to-head stats of India vs Pakistan in World Cups history.

India vs Pakistan in World Cups

India vs Pakistan in ODI World Cup

India and Pakistan have the most famous rivalry in cricket and every game is viewed by hundreds of millions of cricket fans across the globe. They have faced each other 8 times in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and all the games have been won by India. The most vital game was the 2011 World Cup semi-final in which India emerged the winners by 29 runs.

India vs Pakistan in T20 World Cup

India and Pakistan have met each other eight times in the previous eight editions of the T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue continue to hold the upper hand with six wins, while Pakistan have only grabbed a solitary win against India at the 2021 T20 World Cup. The inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 saw a tied match between India and Pakistan with the former winning the bowl out 3-0.

Also Read: ICC Trophy winners list year-wise (2000-2025)

India is a nation where cricket is not just a sport but a religion. The crowd, the stadiums, and most importantly, the passion for cricket that the vibrant atmosphere brings, have made every ICC tournament hosted on Indian soil unforgettable.

Therefore, when it comes to hosting ICC tournaments, India delivers an experience like no other.

This article will take you through the history and highlights of ICC tournaments hosted by India that captivated millions.

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, inaugurated in 1975, has had 13 seasons so far. Out of which, India hosted the tournament 4 times, in the years: 1987, 1996, 2011, 2023. They are also scheduled to host the 2031 season, alongside Bangladesh.

Here's the detailed highlight of each year:

1987: First edition in India, co-hosted with Pakistan

The 1987 Cricket World Cup was the first time the tournament was held outside England. It was known as the "Reliance Cup" due to sponsorship and was also the first 50-over WC, reduced from 60 overs in previous editions.

Co-hosted with Pakistan, India topped the group stage and had a great season. However, they were eliminated in the semi-finals by England at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The Final was played at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata, between Australia and England. Australia won their first title and lifted the World Cup with pride on Indian soil.

1996: Second edition with co-hosts Pakistan and Sri Lanka

This edition was hosted by India, along with Pakistan and Sri Lanka. India faced a controversial semi-final defeat against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. It was caused due to crowd disturbance and India's collapsing run chase, which ultimately led to the game being abandoned.

Sri Lanka won their first WC title by defeating Australia and became the first co-host to do so.

2011: India's home triumph

Co-hosted with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, this was India's ultimate dream and crowning moment. Led by MS Dhoni, India had a dominant campaign and went on to win the World Cup, defeating Sri Lanka in a memorable final.

India became the first team to win the World Cup on home soil. The fact that the final match was held at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, makes it even more special. The roar of the crowd, legendary performances, and the winning six will be forever etched in the hearts of millions.

The final was also the first time two Asian teams played against each other in the tournament's history.

Read Also: India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

2023: India's unfulfilled dream and heartbreak on home soil

As sole host, India delivered a spectacular performance throughout the tournament. They dominated every opponent in the group stage and the semi-final, without losing a single match across all venues.

However, despite their brilliant efforts, they lost to the Australian side in the final, held at the world's largest stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. This was a major heartbreak for the team and fans, who dreamed of a home victory after 12 years.

Virat Kohli was named the player of the tournament, setting a new record for most runs in a single WC edition, and Mohammed Shami was the leading wicket-taker.

ICC Men's T20 World Cup

India has formally hosted the ICC Men's T20 World Cup twice. Here's a summary of those tournaments:

2016: A carnival of T20 cricket on Indian soil

India battled through every match brilliantly in the season with a great squad. However, their journey ended in the semi-final with a high-scoring loss against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

This season was a special one and delivered many dramatic, nail-biting encounters. The final match, held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, is also popular for its thrilling finish, where Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes to seal the victory for WI against England.

Read Also: Who scored the fastest century in T20 World Cups?

2021: India's hostship amidst global challenges (Held in UAE & Oman)

Although India was the designated host, the tournament was moved to the UAE and Oman due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in India. They also had a disappointing campaign, failing to qualify for the semi-finals.

ICC Men's Champions Trophy

India officially hosted the ICC Men's Champions Trophy once, in 2006, and is set to host the 2029 edition.

2006: India's first and only edition as hosts

This was the fifth edition of the Champions Trophy and the first time India had the sole hosting rights. They had a disappointing start to the season and failed to progress beyond the group stage, leading to an early exit.

The tournament featured 10 teams, and the Australian side, led by Ricky Ponting, emerged as champions.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

India has hosted the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 3 times, in the years 1978, 1997, and 2013. They are also scheduled to co-host the 2025 season.

Read Also: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

1978: The inaugural WC on Indian soil

This was India's debut World Cup appearance as well as the first time hosting the tournament. They lost all three matches against Australia, England, and New Zealand in the round-robin format, and finished fourth (last).

This was the first time the tournament was being hosted outside England. 

1997: A record-breaking season in India

This was the largest Women's World Cup at that time, featuring 11 teams and 32 matches across various venues in India. India put up a strong fight, but was defeated by Australia in the semis.

The final at Eden Gardens attracted a significant crowd, showcasing the growing interest in women's cricket. Australia won their fourth WC title, and their second on Indian soil.

2013: India's early exit in the home tournament

This edition saw several close matches throughout the group stage. India, as hosts, had a disappointing campaign and failed to go beyond the group stage. Yet again, Australia secured their sixth WC title, and the 3rd on Indian soil.

ICC Women's T20 World Cup

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup, organised in 2009, has conducted 9 seasons so far. India has hosted the tournament once, in 2016.

2016: A global showcase of women's T20 cricket in India

This tournament, held alongside the Men's T20 World Cup, served as a significant platform. India had a challenging season, winning only a single match against Bangladesh and losing the remaining ones.

West Indies emerged as champions in an intense final against Australia and lifted their first T20 World Cup title.

Read Also: Top 10 fastest centuries in Women's T20Is

Upcoming ICC tournaments to be hosted by India: