Cricket World Cup 2019: India vs Sri Lanka rivalry - Top 3 World Cup clashes

Asian giants, India and Sri Lanka are two of the only three Asian countries who have been successful in winning the coveted ICC World Cup trophy. Legendary players like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Arjuna Ranatunga have represented Sri Lanka at the World Cup whereas icons Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly have proudly donned the Indian jersey at the mega-event.

Looking at the World Cup history of both the teams, both India and Sri Lanka have played all the 11 World Cups conducted so far. India has won two World Cups while Sri Lanka has won one.

The two teams have often crossed paths at the mega-event, eight times to be precise. Sri Lanka won four of those matches, while India won three, with one match drawn. Today, we will have a look at the top 3 World Cup clashes between the two neighbors.

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#3 2007, Group Stage, Trinidad

Group B, India v Sri Lanka - Cricket World Cup 2007

The 2007 World Cup proved to be the worst World Cup campaign in Indian cricket history as the Men In Blue lost a group stage match to Bangladesh. In order to progress to the next round, they had to overcome the challenge from the Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka were already through to the next round as they had beat both Bangladesh and Bermuda. India won the toss and opted to bowl first at Port of Spain.

Upul Tharanga and Chamara Silva's half-tons took the island nation to 254 in 50 overs. Chasing 255, India lost the key wickets of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Robin Uthappa before the team score crossed 50.

A 54-runs stand between skipper Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag helped India stay in the match but Muttiah Muralitharan's 3-wicket haul ensured that the India lose the match by 69 runs. Sri Lanka knocked India out of the World Cup.

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#2 1999, Group Stage, Taunton

India V Sri Lanka

India and Sri Lanka met in a group match of the 1999 World Cup at Taunton. This was the last time the World Cup was hosted by England and after a gap of 20 years, the two teams will once again collide in a World Cup match in the same country.

In 1999, the then defending champions, Sri Lanka elected to field first after winning the toss and the way Chaminda Vaas cleaned up Sadagoppan Ramesh in the first over, it looked like Sri Lanka had struck gold. However, what transpired next was something the Lankan lions would have never imagined even in their wildest of the dreams.

Sourav Ganguly and wicket-keeper Rahul Dravid stitched a 318-run partnership for the 2nd wicket and helped India reach 373 in their 50 overs. Robin Singh's 5-wicket haul in the second innings made sure India quash Sri Lanka in that group stage encounter.

#1 2011, Final, Mumbai

India v Sri Lanka - 2011 ICC World Cup Final

Sri Lanka and India co-hosted the ICC World Cup in 2011 along with Bangladesh. The two teams dominated the group stages and then won the quarter-final and semi-final to qualify for the final of the grand event. India had not won the World Cup in the last 28 years whereas Sri Lanka had last lifted the trophy way back in 1996.

The Wankhede Stadium of Mumbai played the host to this grand finale, where the visiting captain won the toss and chose to bat first. Mahela Jayawardene scored a brilliant hundred to guide his team to 274/6 in 50 overs. In reply, India lost both their openers early as the young Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir tried to stabilize the innings.

Gambhir played a match-winning knock of 97 runs before departing in the 42nd over of the match. Skipper MS Dhoni and man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh did the remaining job to help India become the first ever team to win the World Cup on its own home turf.