This day 30 years ago, Kapil's Devils dethroned Clive Lloyd's West Indies to be crowned new world champions.
June 25. The date that will remain etched in the memory of every Indian cricket fan. And it is the date the West Indians would remember for bitter reasons. It was on this day 30 years ago that India conquered the world when Kapil Dev’s bunch of hopefuls stopped Clive Lloyd’s colourful Caribbeans from completing a hat-trick of titles in the Prudential World Cup.
So much has changed since that unforgettable English summer day. That win has inspired a whole generation of youngsters to take up cricket and instilled in them the belief that India can be world beaters.
Thirty years on, Kapil and his 13 other Devils and manager PR Man Singh will silently reflect upon that achievement and go down memory lane. As one of Kapil’s Devils, Madan Lal said on Monday: “Tomorrow (Tuesday) is like any other day, nothing special. You feel happy when people remind you about that World Cup win and that you have done well. What else can you do. Life goes on.”
As it happened that day, after posting only 183 in 54.4 overs — they left 5.2 overs unutilised, India skittled out West Indies for only 140 in 52 overs to emerge victorious by 43 runs.
The sight of Krishnamachari Srikkanth going down on one knee to square drive the ferocious Andy Roberts for a boundary in a score of 38, remains ever green in one’s memory, as much as Kapil Dev running miles and miles to catch a Viv Richards’s pull off Madan Lal.
Not to forget Balwinder Singh Sandhu bamboozling Gordon Greenidge, who shouldered arms and lost his off stump.
West Indies were on cruise mode until Kapil pulled off that stunning catch off Richards. No sooner had Michael Holding been trapped leg before by the gentle medium-pace of Mohinder Amarnath than the Lord’s Cricket Ground was flooded with spectators that the players had to run for their lives to the safety of the dressing room. Amarnath had the rare distinction of being named man of the match for both the semifinal and the final.
Kapil’s inspiring leadership in that tournament, especially the final, has been much talked about. His famous words of ‘let’s go out and fight’ during the innings break have worked wonders.
So many stories have been written about the historic victory, the Indian team has gone on to repeat that feat in 2011 besides also reaching the final in 2003. India have also gone on to win the World T20 and added the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday to their glittering show case. They have also started winning abroad while also producing many world-class players and captains.
But the seed was sown that summer day of June 25, 1983.
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