Six 30+ scores which played a major role in India's World Cup triumphs

India has been one of the few countries that has won all 3 major ICC Tournaments. India also has the unique distinction of winning a 60-over World Cup, a 20-over World Cup and a 50-over World Cup. India also won Kerry Packer's World Championship series in Australia in 1985 and ICC Champions Trophy in 2002 (Joint Winners with Sri Lanka) and 2013. India lost the opportunity to add a couple of ICC World Cup trophies to their trophy cabinet when they featured in the World Cup finals against Australia in 2003 and T20 Cup finals against Sri Lanka in 2014.

In all these World Cup campaigns, there have been some sterling performances, which has lifted the side. Kapil Dev's 175 was a monumental effort that helped India reach the semis in 1983 World Cup. Sachin Tendulkar's 482 runs in the 2011 World Cup brought India to the finals. Yuvraj Singh's inspired performances in the 2007 T20 World Cup motivated the team to go all the way.

There were multiple star-performers who did it for India, but there were a few important contributions along the way, which eventually made the difference. Let's look at six such contributions that helped India achieve World Cup glory.

---

#6 Suresh Raina - 34 versus Australia in 2011 World Cup Quarter Final

Suresh Raina's 34 was one of the reasons India defeated Australia in the quarters

India were playing against defending champions Australia. Ricky Ponting won an all-important toss in Ahmedabad and decided to bat. Brad Haddin scored 53 and Ricky Ponting led from the front with a fighting 104. David Hussey's 38-run cameo helped Australia reach 260, which given the conditions was a very good total.

India started off on a positive note and Sachin Tendulkar's 53 and Gautam Gambhir's 50 kept the Australian bowlers at bay. Once the duo were dismissed, Yuvraj Singh took up the responsibility and continued scoring at a brisk pace. MS Dhoni was dismissed against the run of play and India were reeling at 187 for 5 in the 37th over, still needing 74 runs from 74 balls.

Suresh Raina joined Yuvraj Singh and the duo wrestled back the momentum from Australia with some sensible batting. They were constantly rotating the strike and hitting the occasional boundary when needed. Raina scored 34 from 28 balls which included 5 fours and a six. This partnership sealed the game for India and ousted the defending champions from the World Cup.

#5 Virender Sehwag - 38 versus Pakistan in 2011 World Cup Semi Final

Virender Sehwag's 38 derailed the Pakistani bowlers upfront

Virender Sehwag was in red hot form during the 2011 World Cup. He would go ahead and smash the first ball of the innings for a boundary with disdain during the league phases. When India locked horns with Pakistan in the semis, MS Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat. Umar Gul was one of the top wicket takers and had even mentioned about troubling the Indian trio of Sehwag, Tendulkar and Gambhir.

Sehwag started the proceedings with a blistering cover drive and followed it up with 5 boundaries in one over against Gul. He smashed couple of boundaries off Abdul Razzak and dented Pakistan's confidence. When Gul came back into the attack, Sehwag welcomed him by scoring another 9 runs of his over. Sehwag was dismissed for 38 in 25 balls with 8 boundaries by Wahab Riaz. Sehwag had given a hammer blow to Pakistan, which helped India to seize an early advantage, which resulted in a famous win.

#4 Suresh Raina - 36 versus Pakistan in 2011 World Cup Semi Final

Suresh Raina was India's rescue man in 2011 World Cup playing important cameos

Virender Sehwag had gotten India off to a fantastic start and once he was dismissed, India lost the momentum. Sachin Tendulkar was having a charmed life with four dropped catches and a couple of close calls which made him to play percentage cricket. Yuvraj Singh, India's middle-order mainstay was dismissed off the first ball he faced and MS Dhoni found it difficult to get going due to the two-sided nature of the pitch in Mohali.

When Raina joined Dhoni after Sachin's dismissal, there was long way to go. India lost Dhoni and the score was 205 for 6 in 42 overs. Raina scored 36 of 38 balls and gallantly batted with the tail rotating the strike well and hitting the occasional boundary. He had small but critical partnerships with Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan, which pushed India's total to 260. This gave the bowlers something to bowl with. Pakistan's insipid batting approach in the middle overs made matters more difficult and they eventually bowed out of the World Cup scoring 231.

#3 Rohit Sharma - 30 versus Pakistan in 2007 T20 World Cup Final

Rohit Sharma's quickfire 30 helped India reach 157 against Pakistan

India was playing Pakistan in the inaugural T20 World Cup final in 2007 and the stakes were pretty high. MS Dhoni had no hesitation in batting first, a strategy that had worked well for India. Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan got India off to a flyer before the latter was dismissed. Robin Uthappa followed soon and Yuvraj Singh found it difficult to get going. Gambhir rallied along well and compiled an impressive half century.

When Umar Gul dismissed both Yuvraj and Dhoni in quick succession, India were struggling at 111 for 4 in 15 overs. Matters worsened when the well-set Gambhir got out at 75. A young 20-year old Rohit Sharma played a mesmerizing cameo where he scored 30 from 16 balls. He ran well between the wickets and hit a crucial six and a boundary in the last over to bolster India to a competitive 157 for 5 in 20 overs.

Pakistan fought valiantly and fell short of the target by 5 runs. The last over bowled by Joginder Sharma and the scoop shot played by Misbah is etched forever in every Indian's mind.

#2 Kris Srikanth - 38 versus West Indies in 1983 World Cup Final

Kris Srikanth's forgotten 38 helped India to score 183

India were the underdogs against an all-conquering West Indies side, which was known to intimidate oppositions. Kapil Dev won the toss and elected to bat and India started off on a poor note losing their talismanic opener Sunil Gavaskar. Mohinder Amarnath and Srikanth resurrected the situation with a 57-run stand.

Srikanth was very severe against anything lose from the fearsome West Indian quicks. He played some fierce square cuts, and powerful hook shots. The hook shot he played against Joel Garner was one of the shots of the World Cup. He was eventually dismissed for a well made 38 off 57 balls with seven fours and one six. India could manage a paltry 183.

India's bowlers bowled in a disciplined manner, not allowing the West Indies to get off the hook. The star-studded line up eventually bowed down to India's resolve and got bowled out for 140.

Mohinder Amarnath was give the Man of the Match for his all-round efforts, but Kris Srikanth's early surge helped India to seize the momentum.

#1 Virat Kohli - 35 versus Sri Lanka in 2011 World Cup Final

Virat's cameo in the final helped India to settle down in the chase

India went in as the overwhelming favorites against Sri Lanka in the World Cup final 2011. Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and chose to bat. Sri Lanka started slowly, but capitalized later on in their innings. Mahela Jayawardene's classy century helped Sri Lanka reach a match-winning 275.

India had one of the poorest starts in the World cup losing Sehwag for 0 and Tendulkar for 18. India were reeling at 31 for 2 and in came a youngster, replacing the "Little Master". Wankhede had gone so silent, that Virat has gone on the record to state that he felt like walking into a graveyard. Virat sensibly batted with Gambhir and they were adept in taking singles and doubles, whilst hitting the occasional boundary. Kohli played a supporting role and Gambhir played the aggressor. They forged an important 83-run stand, which provided MS Dhoni the platform to play a dream innings in the final.

Virat was dismissed for 35 from 49 balls with four hits to the fence. When India won the trophy, Dhoni acknowledged the role played by the youngster and appreciated him for soaking in all the pressure.

Virat is the leading batsman in the world today and if India has to win the 2019 World Cup in England, he will have to play a major role in it.