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The win-or-go-home stage of the 2023 World Cup is upon us, with Team India all set to take on New Zealand in the first semi-final in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma and company have been in red-hot form, winning all nine league-stage games comprehensively to finish on top of the points table. However, they will be wary of the Kiwi threat, considering their ability to rise to the occasion during the knockouts.
India are one of only three teams to have won the ODI World Cup twice or more, with the West Indies (2) and Australia (5) being the others. They have also triumphed in ICC events like the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Nevertheless, they have had its share of heartbreaks, especially in the semi-final stage of ICC tournaments. With the side looking to win their first ICC event since 2013, Indian fans will hope for them to not falter in the knockouts once again.
With that in mind, let us look back at five times when India suffered defeat in the semi-final of an ICC tournament.
#1 2022 T20 World Cup
Team India suffered one of their worst semi-final defeats against England in the T20 World Cup in Australia last year. Led by five-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma, the Men in Blue looked on course to break their ICC trophy jinx by winning four of their five group-stage games.
Entering the knockouts as table-toppers, India took on defending ODI World Cup champions England in the semi-final. Led by a well-compiled 40-ball 50 from Virat Kohli and a blistering 33-ball 63 by Hardik Pandya, the Asian giants posted a competitive 168/6 in 20 overs.
With the game hanging on a knife edge, the English openers crushed all Indian hopes with a brutal display of batsmanship. Skipper Jos Buttler smashed 80 off 49 deliveries and fellow opener Alex Hales scored 86 off 47 as England completed the run chase in a mere 16 overs with all 10 wickets in hand.
The embarrassing mauling extended India's wait for an ICC title to over a decade as England went on to clinch their second T20 World Cup title by beating Pakistan in the summit clash.
#2 2019 ODI World Cup
The 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final was arguably the most painful day for Indian cricket fans, with the side suffering a shocking defeat to New Zealand.
True to their potential, the Virat Kohli-led side romped through the round-robin stages with a lone defeat in nine games. However, their usual stumbling block in ICC events, New Zealand, ended their hopes in the semi-final.
Despite half-centuries by skipper Kane Williamson and the now-retired Ross Taylor, India restricted the Blackcaps to a manageable 239/8 in 50 overs.
However, with rain washing out the remainder of the day, the game was moved to the reserve day to achieve a result.
Unfortunately for the Men in Blue, they unraveled in the wake of an outstanding spell of swing bowling by Matt Henry and Trent Boult to be reduced to 24/4 in 10 overs.
Although a 106-run partnership from 92/6 between MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja reignited Indian hopes, the former's run out was the final nail in the coffin.
India were bowled for 221 in the final over to go down by 18 runs in what many deemed a shocking upset. Whether it will be revenge or repeat four years later remains to be seen.
#3 2016 T20 World Cup
The last time India played a home World Cup was in the T20 format back in 2016. The promising campaign came to a tearful end in the semi-final.
Following defeat in the grand finale of the 2014 edition against Sri Lanka, India were determined to cross the final hurdle in front of home fans. However, they were in for an immediate shock, losing to New Zealand in the tournament opener in Nagpur.
Yet, the side remained unfazed and regrouped brilliantly to win the next three games to qualify for the knockouts. In the semi-final, Team India played the 2012 T20 champions West Indies at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Led by a sparkling 89 off 47 by Virat Kohli, the hosts posted a mammoth 192/2 in 20 overs. An inspired Indian attack then reduced the West Indies to 19/2 in three overs before a sensational turnaround.
Coming in at No.4, Lendl Simmons lived a charmed life while playing some scintillating strokes to finish unbeaten on 82 from 51 balls. He was well supported by opener Johnson Charles (52 off 36) and big-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell (43* off 20) as the West Indians pulled off a final-over victory by seven wickets.
A dejected Indian team headed back in bitter disappointment as a shell-shocked Mumbai crowd looked on at another World Cup semi-final slip away.
#4 1996 ODI World Cup
One of the most infamous scenes in India happened during the 1996 ODI World Cup semi-final in Kolkata.
Despite an inconsistent showing in the group stages with three wins in five games, they still made it to the knockouts. However, an inspired performance in the quarter-final against Pakistan, winning by 39 runs, raised Indian hopes of winning a second ODI World Cup.
In the semi-final, they were up against an in-form Sri Lankan lineup yet to lose a single game in the tournament. Nevertheless, the hosts reduced the Lankans to 35/3 before a magnificent counter-attacking knock of 66 by Aravinda de Silva tilted the scales back in their favor.
With 251 on the board and the Kolkata wicket ever-detoriating, the Indian batting was up against it. Yet, Sachin Tendulkar continued his incredible form in the tournament by smashing 65 off 88 deliveries.
However, his untimely stumping off the bowling of Sanath Jayasuriya flipped the script and led to one of the worst batting collapses. From 98/1, India slipped to 120/8, leading fans at the Eden Gardens stands to cause a riot.
It forced the rest of the match to be abandoned, with Sri Lanka being awarded winners by default based on the game situation.
#5 1987 ODI World Cup
Following their miraculous 1983 World Cup triumph, Team India were looking to defend the title on home soil. Led by the legendary Kapil Dev, India went untroubled during the league stage, winning five of six games and topping Group A.
However, in the semi-final against England, the hosts were stunned by a breathtaking 115 off 136 balls by opening batter Graham Gooch. He was well supported by skipper Mike Gatting, who scored a 62-ball 56 to propel England to 254/6 in 50 overs.
The run chase proved to be a bridge too far for the Indian batters as they were bundled out for 219 in the 46th over to lose by 35 runs. The defeat spelled the end of an era in Indian cricket that saw them win the 1983 World Cup and the 1985 World Championship.
Unfortunately, England could not finish the job as the Aussies defeated them in the grand finale to clinch the first of their five ODI World Cup titles.
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