Ajinkya Rahane (left) celebrates after reaching his half-century in the fourth ODI in Birmingham on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Image

1983 World Cup (India winners)

India went into the World Cup having won just one of their previous six matches in the 60-over event. They were not expected to do much in 1983. But for once, India chose a specialist ODI squad with a number of medium-paced all-rounders led by Kapil Dev. The trick worked as they stunned West Indies, the defending champions in the very first match. Thereafter, India beat Zimbabwe and Australia. The most stunning turnaround happened however in the return match against Zimbabwe when reduced to 17 for five, India made 266 for eight. This was all thanks to Kapil's brilliant unbeaten 175. Thereafter, India outgunned England and met the West Indies in the final on June 25. The rest is history!

1986 ODI series 1-1 (India win on better scoring rate)

In the lead-up to the tour, Kapil Dev's side failed to win three successive one-day tournaments in Sharjah and Australia. But they came up against a struggling England team in a 55-overs-a-side contest. Medium-pacers Chetan Sharma and Roger Binny plotted England's downfall in the first of the two matches. England were shot out for only 162, which India chased down in 47.2 overs for the loss of just Srikkanth. Sunil Gavaskar (65) and Mohd Azharuddin (83) were the heroes. In the next match, India posted 254 for six in their 55 overs. England chased down the target with seven balls to spare thanks to Gower's 81. England may have levelled the series 1-1, but they lost the series owing to the playing conditions which handed India the Texaco Trophy.