Cricket World Cup History: Ranking the top five innings played by Indian batsmen in World Cup history 

#1 Kapil Dev - 175 vs Zimbabwe

Kapil Dev

If there's one innings that can be regarded as the one that changed the way the Indians played the game of cricket, then this is the very inning.

India took on Zimbabwe in a must-win encounter but they got off to the worst possible start. Kapil Dev must not have been expecting to be on the crease when the scoreboard was in single digits. When the Indian captain came out to bat, India were in all sorts of trouble, struggling at 9 runs for 4 wickets.

Soon India were bowled down to 17 for 5 and the hopes of the team seemed to be done and dusted. Kapil Dev was not in a good to give as he launched a counter on Zimbabwe bowlers. When India was reduced to 140/8, even reaching 200 looked difficult but Kapil Dev continued his attack.

Syed Kirmani, the wicket-keeper of the side provided him support by staying put on the other end as the two built together with an unbeaten partnership of 126 runs. Sadly, this match was not broadcasted and no pictures of the innings are available but Indian fans can create the whole picture in their mind just by admiring the sheer grit and class that the Indian captain put up. This win was instrumental, as the Indian team, brimming with motivation, went on to win the 1983 World Cup.