5 most iconic World Cup performances by Indian batsmen

#4 Sunil Gavaskar\'s 103* vs New Zealand, 1987

Not the greatest of ODI players, the great Sunil Gavaskar came to score his first and onlyODI hundred 103 not out from 88 balls against New Zealand - just at the right time. The 1987 World Cup moved out ofthe traditional base of England to the Indian subcontinent, and the matches were played in the 50-overformat for the first time, as opposed to the earlier 60 overs format.

India had four wins from its first fivematches. Both teams had already assured themselves of a place in the semi-finals, but India needed tobeat New Zealand in Nagpur by a big margin to push its net run-rate beyond Australia's and avoid meetingPakistan in the semi-final in Lahore. Instead, India would get to play England at home, a potentially lessthreatening opposition on crickets biggest stage. In the previous game, against Zimbabwe, Gavaskar hadscored 50 from 114 balls. India won, but he was blamed for Indias net run-rate dipping.

KrishnamachariSrikkanth and Gavaskar quickly got into the act, racing to 50 from 7.1 overs. Gavaskar targeted EwanChatfield specifically, hitting two straight sixes and two fours off the first four balls of the third over. Indiaraced to 100 in just 14 overs, and though Srikkanth fell after a stroke-filled 75 from just 58 balls, Gavaskar didnt stop there. Taking charge, he hit another six and eight more boundaries as his century came off just85 balls and India tasted victory in 32.1 overs. It was the second fastest World Cup hundred at that pointafter Clive Lloyds 82-ball century in the 1975 final. Gavaskar was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award.