WC 2015: India will have to beat both hosts to win title, has it ever happened before?

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Bangalore, March 25: Defending champions India is set to take on Australia in the semifinal of the 2015 ICC World Cup in Sydney on Thursday. If India win, they will meet New Zealand, who beat South Africa in the first semi-final in Auckland on Tuesday, in the final.

This means Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men will have to beat both hosts of this year's World Cup to lift their second successive and third overall title.

Such a scenario is first in the cricket World Cup where a country has to beat the hosts in the semi-final and final to win the World Cup. Here is a look at the past World Cups:

1975: Champions West Indies beat New Zealand (SF) and Australia (F) in England

1979: Champions WI beat Pakistan (SF) and England (F) in England

1983: Champions India beat England (SF) and West Indies (F) in England

1987: Champions Australia beat Pakistan (SF) and England (F) in India & Pakistan

1992: Champions Pakistan beat New Zealand (SF) and England (F) in Australia & New Zealand

1996: Champions Sri Lanka beat India (SF) and Australia (F) in Pakistan, India & Sri Lanka

1999: Champions Australia beat South Africa (SF) and Pakistan (F) in England, Scotland, Wales & the Netherlands

2003: Champions Australia beat Sri Lanka (SF) and India (F) in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Kenya

2007: Champions Australia beat South Africa (SF) and Sri Lanka (F) in West Indies

2011: Champions India beat Pakistan (SF) and Sri Lanka (F) in India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh

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