1983 - Cricket becomes a Religion in India
25th June, 1983, India's World Cup victory at Lord's was a watershed moment in Indian cricket history. Under Kapil Dev's inspiring leadership, the team overcame the dominant West Indies, who were two-time defending champions.
I had celebrated my 13th birthday, 13 days ago, and our favourite evening past time after returning from school was playing Cricket in the empty fields in & around our house. Thanks to my dad, who had bought a "Solitaire" Black & White television in early 1983!
The 1983 Cricket World Cup (officially the Prudential Cup '83) was the 3rd edition of the Cricket World Cup tournament. India had gone to the tournament as underdogs! The previous two World Cups saw India winning only one match and that too against East Africa & in 1979, they had even lost to Sri Lanka!
The fact that the team went from underdogs to world champions makes their victory even more special. It was a turning point for Indian cricket, proving that they could compete and win on the global stage.
One of the defining moments of the tournament was Kapil Dev's incredible 175* against Zimbabwe, which rescued India from a dangerous position and kept their campaign alive during the early stages of the tournament.
The India vs. England 1983 World Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, Manchester on 22nd June'83, was a historic match that paved the way for India's first-ever World Cup triumph. It was a clash between Kapil Dev's spirited underdogs and England, who were one of the favorites to win the tournament.
England won the toss and chose to bat first, but India's bowling attack delivered a fantastic performance. The hosts struggled against India's disciplined bowling, with Kapil Dev, Madan Lal, and Mohinder Amarnath leading the charge. England was bowled out for 213 in 60 overs.
India's chase was steady and well-paced, thanks to Yashpal Sharma's, Sandeep Patil's and Mohinder Amarnath for successfully chasing down the target in 54.4 overs, finishing at 217/4 and winning by 6 wickets.
This victory set up a final showdown with the mighty West Indies, where India pulled off one of the greatest upsets in cricket history. The 1983 semi-final win over England was a statement that India was no longer a pushover in world cricket.
Watching all this happen live, way back in 1983, on a Black & White television was unbelievable & my house was packed with neighbours making comments and sharing their own point of views!
That victory gave India immense confidence going into the final against the mighty West Indies! The 1983 World Cup final is one of the most iconic matches in cricket history. India, led by Kapil Dev, faced the mighty West Indies, who had dominated world cricket for nearly a decade. No one expected India to win—but they defied the odds and made history!
In the final, after winning the toss, Kapil Dev chose to bat first. But India's batting struggled against the fearsome West Indies pace attack. The top order crumbled, and things looked bleak. India were bowled out for 183 in 54.4 overs—a seemingly modest total against a team like West Indies.
With a star-studded batting lineup including Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, and Jeff Dujon, West Indies were expected to chase this target comfortably. However, despite a modest target of 183, India's bowlers, led by Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath, stunned the West Indies, bowling them out for 140.
India's underdog triumph shocked the cricketing world and marked the beginning of a new era for Indian cricket. From being considered minnows, India had arrived on the global stage as world champions!
This triumph instilled self-belief in Indian cricket, paved the way for future successes, and inspired generations of cricketers. It also marked the beginning of India's rise as a dominant force in world cricket.