On This Day: After Champions Trophy 2025 Win, India won first Modern ODI Trophy in Australia 40 years Ago

India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title on Sunday (March 9), thus marking a significant day in the history of Indian cricket.

Rohit Sharma and his men beat New Zealand in the final to win their third title, which is also the 7th ICC title won by them. A star-studded generation of Indian cricket took centre stage and continued the legacy, which has enriched the sport in this country for years now.

But when it comes to ODI cricket, India had a glorious moment to cherish in 1985. After the 1983 World Cup win, which actually blossomed the sport in the nation, the Indian team went on to do wonders in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, the first big title in the 50-over cricket.

The 1985 World Championship of Cricket remains one of India's most remarkable victories in the history of ODIs. Hosted by Australia to commemorate 150 years of European settlement, this unique tournament featured the top seven cricketing nations of the time: India, Pakistan, Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. India, fresh from their 1983 World Cup glory, proved their supremacy yet again by clinching the title in emphatic fashion.

A Tournament to Remember

This was the first tournament with teams donning colored clothing under floodlights - a relatively new concept in world cricket. India, led by Sunil Gavaskar, entered the tournament with a well-balanced squad featuring seasoned players like Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Mohammad Azharuddin.

India's Unbeaten Run

India displayed incredible form throughout the tournament, emerging undefeated in all their matches. The team exhibited a perfect blend of aggressive batting, disciplined bowling, and sharp fielding. In the league stage, they defeated Pakistan, England, and Australia, securing their spot in the semi-finals.

In the semi-final, India faced New Zealand and put up a commanding performance to secure their place in the final against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

The final, held on March 10, 1985, saw India completely outplaying Pakistan in all departments.

What happened in 1985 WCC Final?

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. However, India's bowlers, led by the brilliant Kapil Dev and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, restricted Pakistan to a modest 176 runs. In response, India chased down the target comfortably, thanks to a composed innings by Kris Srikkanth (67 runs) and contributions from other top-order batsmen. India won the final by eight wickets, marking a historic triumph.

Ravi Shastri was the standout performer of the tournament, delivering crucial all-round performances. His consistent batting and effective bowling earned him the 'Champion of Champions' award, along with an Audi 100 car, which became an iconic moment in Indian cricket history.