Hyderabad: Owing to failures in 1975 and 1979 editions of the World Cup, nobody had any special expectation from the Indian team in the 1983 World Cup. What could Indians have expected from a team that made group stage exit in the previous World Cups? This time too the World Cup was played in England. As playing at swinging English conditions was tough nobody wanted to put money in India's favour. But things proved otherwise. There was something special in store for the Indians.
The Indian team led by young all-rounder Kapil Dev stunned the world defeating two-time world champions West Indies in the summit clash. Before the final, English journalists were sceptical about India's chances. They had predicted a lopsided final since two-time champions West Indies were utmost favourites. But they were proved wrong not only in the final but throughout the tournament.
This time too eight teams were divided into two groups. Prudential Plc was the official sponsor of the World Cup for third consecutive times. Hence it was called Prudential World Cup. Each group was comprised of four teams just like the previous two World Cups. The difference this time was that each team had to play two matches each at the group stage. New rules were introduced to reduce the number of wides and bouncers. Fielding rule was also changed as this was the first World Cup in which fielding within the radius of 30 yards started.
Groups
England, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka were placed in Group A while West Indies, India, Australia and Zimbabwe were in group B.
India vs West Indies, First match
In the last two World Cups, India were asked to play the tournament opener and they lost on both occasions. But in 1983 they were scheduled to play the fourth game of the tournament against defending champions West Indies at Manchester on June 9. This was also the first game for the Caribbean team. Breaking the stereotype India rocked the World Cup thrashing West Indies to give their campaign a fantastic start.
Winning the toss West Indies skipper Lloyd invited India to bat. But India overcame the fear of playing the fearsome fast bowling prodigies like Michael Holding, Sir Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshal and Joel Garner. Yashpal Sharma led India's batting scoring a brilliant 89 off 120 balls. India had set mammoth 263 runs target for the defending champions.
Indian bowlers gave a fitting reply to the West Indies batsmen. Ravi Shastri and Roger Binny bowled brilliantly taking three wickets apiece. Balwinder Sandhu and Madan Lal picked up one each. West Indies were bowled out for the first time in the tournament for 228. India won the match by 34 runs.
India vs Zimbabwe, Second match
After defeating the mighty West Indies in the first match, Indian players were visibly happy. In their second match, they were pitted against Duncan Fletcher's Zimbabwe at Leicester on June 11. Captain Kapil Dev won the toss and opted to field first. Indian bowlers did a terrific job bowling out Zimbabwe for paltry 155 with 50 balls remaining in their innings. Madan Lal scalped three wickets giving away 27 runs. In reply, Sandeep Patil scored 50 while Mohinder Amarnath played a 44-run innings to beat Zimbabwe by 5 wickets with 135 balls remaining.
India vs Australia, Third match
Buoyant by two successive victories Indians were scheduled to take on Australia in Nottingham on June 13. But the Aussies had halted India's victorious run beating them by 162 runs. Though captain Kapil Dev scalped his first World Cup fifer, other Indians bowlers proved costly in this match. In reply to Australia's 321, India were bowled out for 158 within 37.8 overs. Captain Kapil Dev scored 40 in this match.
India vs West Indies, Fourth match
On June 15, India played their third match against West Indies in London. This time Clive Lloyd's West Indies were ready to show the Indians what they were up to. After losing their first game to India, West Indies had defeated Australia and Zimbabwe to make a comeback in the tournament. Batting first at the Oval, West Indies scored 289 runs in allotted 60 overs. Indians bowlers once again proved costly. Roger Binny picked up three wickets but conceded 71 runs in 12 overs.
In reply to an imposing 290 runs target, India fought well. Showing sign of consistency Mohinder Amarnath scored 80 before being dismissed by Michael Holding. But his contribution was not enough as India suffered their second consecutive defeat by 66 runs.
India vs Zimbabwe, Fifth match
Down by two back to back defeats, Indians were required to do something special to stay afloat in the 1983 World Cup. But Zimbabwe fought back to reduce India to 5 for 17. Peter Rawson and Kevin Curran ripped through the Indian top-order picking up three wickets each. Nevertheless, India were in deep trouble. It was then India found a saviour in all-rounder Kapil Dev who took the world by storm. He was very clear about his planning and went after Zimbabwe bowlers from the very first ball of his innings. Kapil Dev hammered Zimbabwe bowlers during his immortal innings. He hit 6 sixes and 16 boundaries. He remained unbeaten on 175 off 138 balls as India set a huge 267-run target for Zimbabwe.
In reply, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 235 runs within 57 overs. While Madan Lal picked up 3 wickets Roger Binny scalped 2. Kapil Dev also got a wicket and was adjudged Man of the Match in this match. Unfortunately, there is no video footage available of Kapil's 175 runs knock as BBC employees were on strike.
India vs Australia, Sixth match
In their final group stage match, India were to play Australia on June 20 at Chelmsford. In their previous meeting, India had suffered a 162-run defeat to the Aussies. But things have changed a lot in between. Kapil Dev's 175 not out, which was the highest score of the 1983 World Cup, won hearts of cricket pundits. There was a buzz built up around all-rounder Kapil.
Before the Australia game, the Indian team was confident and players started believing that the World Cup could be theirs as winning from a difficult situation was not impossible.
In the match against Australia, India scored 247 runs losing 10 wickets. Yashpal Sharma scored 40 while Sandeep Patil (30), Kapil Dev (28), Kris Srikkanth (24) and Roger Binny (21) chipped in with small contributions.
Australia, however, could not do anything special while chasing the 248 runs target. India's top two pacers Madan Lal and Roger Binny picked up four wickets each. Australia were bowled out for just 129 runs. India won the match by 118 runs. With this victory, India advanced to the semifinals for the first time in World Cup history. This victory also consolidated their confidence.
Semifinals
In a pulsating first semi-final, India faced last edition's runners-up England at Manchester on 22. This was a very unique situation as India, an erstwhile colony of the British empire, was taking on England. Though India played like a strong team throughout the tournament, they had never tasted victory against England in the World Cup so far. England captain Bob Willis winning the toss decided to bat first. But Indians bowlers never allowed English batsmen to settle down at the crease. While captain Kapil Dev picked up three wickets, Mohinder Amarnath and Roger Binny got two each. England were bowled out for 213 runs.
India, in reply, chased down the target without any hiccups. Half-centuries by Sandeep Patil and Yashpal Sharma, and Mahinder Amarnath's all-round performance helped India beat England by 6 wickets with 32 balls remaining. With this win, India sealed their place in the final. Mohinder Amarnath was adjudged Man of the Match in this match. This sweet victory against the English sparked a celebration back home.
On the other hand, West Indies thrashed Pakistan in the second semifinal by 8 wickets to book their place in the World Cup final for the third successive time.
Final - India proved pundits wrong, became world champions
In the summit clash at the Lord's on June 25, West Indies captain Lloyd won the toss and opted to field first. As expected fearsome Andy Roberts, Holding and Marshal wreaked havoc on the Indian batting line-up. While Roberts picked up 3 wickets, Holding, Marshal and Larry Gomes scalped two each. India were bundled out for paltry 183. Nobody expected India to make a turnaround from here on.
But when West Indies commenced their chase India bowlers gave them a befitting reply bowling them out for 140 inside 52 overs. Mohinder Amarnath and Madan Lal put up a brilliant performance with the ball in hand that helped India made a comeback in the game. Balwinder Sandhu (2), Kapil Dev (1) and Roger Binny (1) made sure that Amarnath and Madan Lal's efforts don't go in vain.
During the 1983 World Cup, Vivian Richards was in great form. So when Kapil Dev took a catch running towards the fence to dismiss dangerous Richards off Madan Lal's bowling the Indian fans in England and at home started celebrating. That celebration turned into a major outbreak of emotion when India beat West Indies by 43 runs to win their maiden World Cup title. The victory at the Lord's is a major landmark in Indian sports history as it changed Indians' outlook towards cricket for ever. After this victory cricket gradually became the most popular sport in the country surpassing hockey and football.
