The ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 was the second edition of the Men’s ODI World Cup, held in England from 9 to 23 June 1979. Eight teams competed in the 60-over tournament, with West Indies winning their second consecutive title after defeating England by 92 runs in the final. India, captained by Srinivas Venkataraghavan, lost all three group-stage matches against West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

The 1979 Cricket World Cup holds an important place in international cricket history.

It was a time when One Day International cricket was still developing, players wore traditional white uniforms, and teams competed in 60-over matches instead of today’s 50-over format.

The tournament featured some of cricket’s biggest names, including Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge, Michael Holding, Sunil Gavaskar, Bishan Singh Bedi and a young Kapil Dev.

For West Indies, the tournament was another demonstration of their dominance. For India, however, the 1979 World Cup was a disappointing campaign.

India failed to win a single match and finished at the bottom of Group B. One of the biggest surprises came against Sri Lanka, who were not yet a Test-playing nation but defeated India by 47 runs.

In this article, we explore the complete ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 history, India’s three match scorecards, key performances, tournament records, 60-over format and the historic final between West Indies and England.

Last updated: 5 November 2026

ICC Cricket World Cup 1979: Tournament Overview

The tournament was sponsored by Prudential and is commonly known as the 1979 Prudential World Cup. West Indies successfully defended the trophy they had first won in 1975.

What Was Different About the 1979 Cricket World Cup?

Modern ODI cricket is played over 50 overs per team. However, the first three Men’s Cricket World Cups in 1975, 1979 and 1983 used a 60-over format. This meant each team could face up to 360 legal deliveries.

Important Features of the 1979 World Cup

• Each innings could last up to 60 overs.
• Bowlers could bowl a maximum of 12 overs each.
• Players wore traditional white cricket clothing.
• Matches used red cricket balls.
• The tournament was played in England.
• Eight teams were divided into two groups.
• The top two teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals.
• The winners of the semi-finals qualified for the final.

The longer format placed considerable importance on batting patience, wicket preservation and disciplined bowling. Scoring rates were generally lower than those seen in modern ODI cricket.

ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 Teams and Groups

Eight teams participated in the tournament.

Group A

1. England
2. Pakistan
3. Australia
4. Canada

Group B

1. West Indies
2. New Zealand
3. India
4. Sri Lanka

Canada made their first Cricket World Cup appearance. Sri Lanka participated as an Associate nation, before receiving Test status in 1981. India competed in Group B alongside defending champions West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

India in the 1979 Cricket World Cup

India entered the tournament hoping to improve on their performance in the inaugural 1975 World Cup. The squad included experienced batters such as Sunil Gavaskar, Gundappa Viswanath and Dilip Vengsarkar.

India also had quality spin bowlers, including Bishan Singh Bedi and captain Srinivas Venkataraghavan. A young Kapil Dev added pace-bowling ability and attacking lower-order batting.

However, India’s campaign did not go according to plan. The team lost all three group matches.

India 1979 World Cup Results

India finished the tournament with zero wins and three defeats. Let’s examine each match.

Match 1: India vs West Indies – 9 June 1979

India began their World Cup campaign against defending champions West Indies at Edgbaston, Birmingham. West Indies won the toss and elected to field. Their powerful pace attack put India under pressure early.

India vs West Indies 1979 World Cup Scorecard

Result: West Indies won by 9 wickets.

India’s Batting Scorecard

Key Highlights

Gundappa Viswanath scored 75 runs. Viswanath was India’s standout batter. He scored 75 from 134 deliveries, including seven boundaries. His innings helped India recover after losing early wickets.

Michael Holding took four wickets. Holding produced outstanding bowling figures of 4/33 in 12 overs. His pace and accuracy caused serious problems for India’s batting line-up.

Gordon Greenidge scored an unbeaten century. West Indies opener Gordon Greenidge scored 106 not out from 173 balls. Desmond Haynes contributed 47, while Viv Richards finished unbeaten on 28. West Indies reached their target with nine wickets remaining.

Player of the Match: Gordon Greenidge – 106 not out

India’s first match exposed the difficulty of facing one of the strongest bowling attacks in world cricket.

Match 2: India vs New Zealand – 13 June 1979

India faced New Zealand in their second group match at Headingley, Leeds. New Zealand won the toss and chose to field. India struggled to build momentum and were dismissed for 182.

India vs New Zealand 1979 World Cup Scorecard

Result: New Zealand won by 8 wickets.

India’s Batting Scorecard

Key Highlights

Sunil Gavaskar scored 55 from 144 balls. Gavaskar played a patient innings and finished as India’s highest run-scorer. However, India struggled to accelerate throughout the innings.

Brijesh Patel contributed 38. Patel scored 38 runs from 60 deliveries, including five fours.

Kapil Dev played an attacking innings. Kapil scored 25 from 24 balls, including three boundaries.

New Zealand’s bowlers shared the wickets. Lance Cairns and Brian McKechnie claimed three wickets each. Richard Hadlee and Gary Troup took two wickets apiece.

New Zealand Batting Highlights

Bruce Edgar’s unbeaten 84 guided New Zealand to victory. New Zealand reached 183/2 in 57 overs.

Player of the Match: Bruce Edgar – 84 not out

The defeat ended India’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Match 3: India vs Sri Lanka – 16–18 June 1979

India’s final group match against Sri Lanka became one of the most significant results of the tournament. The match began on 16 June at Old Trafford, Manchester, and concluded on 18 June after rain interrupted play.

Sri Lanka were not yet a Test-playing nation. India were therefore expected to perform strongly, but Sri Lanka produced an outstanding team performance.

India vs Sri Lanka 1979 World Cup Scorecard

Result: Sri Lanka won by 47 runs.

Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard

India’s Batting Scorecard

Why Was Sri Lanka’s Victory Historic?

Sri Lanka entered the 1979 World Cup without Test-playing status. Their victory over India demonstrated that emerging cricket nations could compete against established international teams. It was Sri Lanka’s first victory in a Men’s Cricket World Cup match.

Three Sri Lankan batters scored half-centuries:

• Sunil Wettimuny – 67
• Duleep Mendis – 64
• Roy Dias – 50

Mohinder Amarnath was India’s most successful bowler, taking 3/40 from 12 overs. However, India could not chase the target of 239. Dilip Vengsarkar top-scored for India with 36. Somachandra de Silva and Tony Opatha took three wickets each for Sri Lanka.

Player of the Match: Duleep Mendis – 64 runs from 57 balls

The 47-run defeat completed India’s winless campaign.

India 1979 World Cup: All Three Match Scorecards at a Glance

India scored 563 runs across their three completed innings. The team failed to reach 200 in any match.

India’s Best Batting Performances in the 1979 World Cup

Gundappa Viswanath’s 75 Against West Indies

Viswanath’s innings against West Indies was India’s highest individual score of the tournament. He faced 134 balls and struck seven fours. The innings was particularly valuable because India were facing a bowling attack featuring Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Colin Croft.

Sunil Gavaskar’s 55 Against New Zealand

Gavaskar’s 55 was India’s only other half-century of the tournament. His innings showed patience but also reflected India’s difficulty in scoring quickly. The slow scoring rate limited India’s ability to set a challenging target.

India’s Bowling Performances in the 1979 World Cup

India’s bowling attack included Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath, Bishan Singh Bedi, Karsan Ghavri and Srinivas Venkataraghavan. The team struggled to take wickets consistently.

Notable Bowling Figures

Mohinder Amarnath’s three wickets against Sri Lanka were India’s best bowling figures of the tournament. The Indian attack could not prevent West Indies and New Zealand from completing comfortable chases.

Why Did India Perform Poorly in the 1979 World Cup?

Several factors contributed to India’s disappointing campaign.

1. Inconsistent Batting

India failed to build substantial totals. The team’s highest score was 191, which was not enough to defeat Sri Lanka.

2. Slow Scoring Rate

India’s batters often struggled to accelerate. The longer 60-over format required patience, but teams still needed enough runs to put pressure on the opposition.

3. Strong Opposition Bowling

West Indies possessed one of the most dangerous pace attacks in cricket history. New Zealand also had an effective bowling unit led by Richard Hadlee and supported by Lance Cairns, Brian McKechnie and Gary Troup.

4. Lack of Wicket-Taking Success

India took only one wicket against West Indies and two against New Zealand. Without regular breakthroughs, defending modest totals became extremely difficult.

5. Failure Against Sri Lanka

India’s loss to Sri Lanka was particularly disappointing. Sri Lanka scored 238/5 before dismissing India for 191. The result highlighted India’s limitations in the ODI format at the time.

ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 Semi-Finals

Four teams advanced to the knockout stage:

• England
• Pakistan
• West Indies
• New Zealand

Semi-Final Results

England reached the final after a close victory over New Zealand. West Indies defeated Pakistan to reach their second consecutive World Cup final.

ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 Final: West Indies vs England

The final was played on 23 June 1979 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. West Indies faced hosts England. England won the toss and elected to field.

West Indies initially struggled, losing four wickets for 99 runs. However, Viv Richards and Collis King produced a match-changing partnership.

1979 World Cup Final Scorecard

Result: West Indies won by 92 runs.

West Indies Batting Highlights

Viv Richards scored an unbeaten 138. Collis King contributed 86 runs from just 66 balls. The pair added 139 runs for the fifth wicket. Their partnership transformed West Indies’ innings.

England Batting Highlights

England’s openers added 129 runs, but their scoring rate was slow. After reaching 183/2, England suffered a dramatic collapse and were dismissed for 194.

Joel Garner’s Five-Wicket Haul

West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner took 5/38. His devastating spell helped West Indies secure a 92-run victory.

Player of the Match: Viv Richards – 138 not out

West Indies became the first team to win consecutive Men’s Cricket World Cup titles.

ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 Records

The tournament produced several memorable performances.

Major Tournament Records

Most Runs in the 1979 Cricket World Cup

Gordon Greenidge finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 253 runs. His unbeaten century against India was an important contribution to West Indies’ campaign. Viv Richards was another major performer, particularly in the final. His unbeaten 138 against England remains one of the iconic innings in Cricket World Cup history.

Most Wickets in the 1979 Cricket World Cup

England fast bowler Mike Hendrick finished as the leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets. West Indies also benefited from outstanding pace bowling throughout the competition. Joel Garner’s five-wicket performance in the final was especially memorable.

India 1979 vs India 1983 World Cup: What Changed?

One of the most fascinating parts of Indian cricket history is the contrast between the 1979 and 1983 World Cups. India lost all three matches in 1979. Just four years later, India became world champions under Kapil Dev.

India’s 1983 success transformed the popularity and future of cricket in the country. The victory also demonstrated how dramatically a team’s fortunes could change within one World Cup cycle.

Why Was the 1979 Cricket World Cup Important?

The 1979 World Cup contributed to the growth of international limited-overs cricket.

West Indies Established Their Dominance

Winning the 1975 and 1979 World Cups made West Indies the dominant ODI team of the early World Cup era.

Viv Richards Delivered a Legendary Final

Richards’ unbeaten 138 against England became one of the defining innings in World Cup history.

Sri Lanka Proved Their Potential

Sri Lanka’s victory over India demonstrated the competitiveness of emerging cricket nations.

The 60-Over Format Continued

The tournament helped establish the early traditions of ODI World Cup cricket before the later move to 50-over World Cups.

India Faced an Important Learning Experience

India’s disappointing results highlighted the need for stronger limited-overs strategies. The team would return four years later to achieve one of cricket’s greatest upsets.

Interesting Facts About the 1979 Cricket World Cup

1. The 1979 tournament was the second Men’s Cricket World Cup.
2. It was hosted entirely in England.
3. All matches used the 60-over format.
4. Eight teams participated.
5. Canada made their World Cup debut.
6. West Indies won their second consecutive title.
7. India lost all three group matches.
8. Sri Lanka defeated India despite not having Test status.
9. Gundappa Viswanath scored India’s highest individual innings of 75.
10. Gordon Greenidge scored the most runs in the tournament.
11. Mike Hendrick took the most wickets.
12. Viv Richards scored 138 not out in the final.
13. Collis King scored 86 from 66 balls in the final.
14. Joel Garner took five wickets against England in the final.
15. West Indies defeated England by 92 runs at Lord’s.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who won the ICC Cricket World Cup 1979?

West Indies won the tournament by defeating England in the final.

2. Who was the runner-up in 1979?

England finished as runners-up.

3. Where was the 1979 Cricket World Cup held?

The tournament was held in England.

4. When was the 1979 Cricket World Cup played?

From 9 to 23 June 1979.

5. How many teams played in the 1979 World Cup?

Eight teams.

6. How many overs were played in the 1979 World Cup?

Each team could bat for a maximum of 60 overs.

7. Who captained India in 1979?

Srinivas Venkataraghavan.

8. How many matches did India win?

India did not win any matches.

9. How many matches did India lose?

Three.

10. Which teams defeated India?

West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

11. What was India’s highest total?

191 against Sri Lanka.

12. Who scored the most runs in an innings for India?

Gundappa Viswanath scored 75 against West Indies.

13. How many runs did Gavaskar score against New Zealand?

55 runs from 144 balls.

14. Did Kapil Dev play in the 1979 World Cup?

Yes. Kapil Dev was part of India’s team.

15. Who defeated India in their first match?

West Indies by nine wickets.

16. Who defeated India in their second match?

New Zealand by eight wickets.

17. Who defeated India in their third match?

Sri Lanka by 47 runs.

18. Why was Sri Lanka’s victory historic?

Sri Lanka defeated an established Test-playing nation before gaining Test status themselves.

19. What was the 1979 World Cup final score?

West Indies scored 286/9 and England were dismissed for 194.

20. Who scored a century in the final?

Viv Richards scored 138 not out.

21. Who took five wickets in the final?

Joel Garner took 5/38.

22. Who scored the most runs in the tournament?

Gordon Greenidge with 253 runs.

23. Who took the most wickets?

Mike Hendrick with 10 wickets.

24. Where was the final played?

Lord’s Cricket Ground, London.

25. How many World Cups had West Indies won by 1979?

Two: 1975 and 1979.

26. Was Sri Lanka a Test-playing nation in 1979?

No. Sri Lanka received Test status in 1981.

27. Did India qualify for the semi-finals?

No. India finished bottom of Group B.

28. Was the 1983 World Cup also played over 60 overs?

Yes.

29. When did India win their first Cricket World Cup?

In 1983.

30. Why is the 1979 World Cup remembered?

It is remembered for West Indies’ second consecutive title, Viv Richards’ final-century performance, Joel Garner’s five wickets and Sri Lanka’s historic victory over India.

Conclusion

The ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 was an important chapter in the history of international cricket. West Indies continued their dominance by winning their second consecutive title, defeating England by 92 runs at Lord’s. Viv Richards produced a memorable unbeaten century in the final, while Joel Garner’s five-wicket haul helped secure victory.

For India, the tournament was disappointing. Under Srinivas Venkataraghavan, India lost all three matches against West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. The defeat against Sri Lanka was especially significant because Sri Lanka had not yet received Test status.

However, India’s poor performance in 1979 makes the team’s 1983 World Cup victory even more remarkable. Within four years, India went from a winless World Cup campaign to defeating West Indies in the final and becoming world champions.

The 1979 tournament remains a reminder of how cricket has evolved, from 60-over matches and traditional ODI strategies to the modern game.

For more Cricket World Cup history, classic scorecards, legendary player records and cricket stories, visit CricketGatha – Cricket Ki Har Kahani.