On this day, 36 years ago, team India led by Kapil Dev created history by winning their first cricket World Cup tournament in 1983. Team India’s victory also broke the World Cup-winning streak of West Indies, marking the arrival of Indian Cricket.
Over 50 years after joining the international game, India had finally arrived. On June 25, 1983, Kapil Dev’s Devils created history by winning the 1983 World Cup.
In the final, India lost the toss and were asked to bat first against a West Indies team that arguably boasted the world’s best bowling attack. Kapil’s men had posted a below-par total of 183 in the big final on June 25, 1983 at the Lord’s, London.
It seemed India’s fairytale run in the World Cup would come to an end. The West Indies were set for a third straight title. Clive Llyod’s side had superstars who, on their day, could just blow away the challenge of chasing 184.
Legend has it that most Indian households had turned off their televisions (or radio sets, in more cases) halfway through the 1983 World Cup final. Their pessimism was justified. Up against the all-conquerors, the only world champions of cricket at the point, India had been bowled out for 183.
But June 25, 1983 was the day that arguably changed Indian cricket forever.
Once Vivian Richards was dismissed, Indians had their tails up. Richards seemed to have an early dinner on his mind as he jumped to 33 off 27 balls. The 28th delivery he faced, from Madan Lal, he decided to take the aerial route on the on-side. And then Kapil Dev ran and took the catch that changed the course of Indian history.
Clive Lloyd fell to Roger Binny without troubling the scorers much. Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall tried to revive the chase with a 43-run stand for the 7th wicket but Mohinder Amarnath stepped into action and removed both of them in quick succession. Having been 50/1, West Indies were bowled out for 140.
Mohinder Amarnath became the first man to be named Player of the Match in both the semi-final and the final of the same World Cup.
“We weren’t silly by thinking we would win it. But we weren’t pessimistic,” Sunil Gavaskar quoted as saying by India Today.
Right after the 1983 World Cup, West Indies great Clive Llyod had said, “Indian cricket has arrived. And it’s here to stay.”
In, 2011, India showcased that they are the new powerhouses of world cricket as an MS Dhoni-led side steamrolled oppositions on their way to World Cup glory. Virat Kohli is now leading a young side that is being considered as favourites to lift the coveted World Cup 2019 trophy and bring home the country’s third World Cup trophy.
