This Day That Year: India create history, Kapil Dev’s team lift 1983 World Cup
On June 25, 1983, India created history as they won the World Cup for the first time by defeating the mighty West Indies as Kapil Dev’s side put the country on the cricketing world map.
For the Indian cricket team, June 25 is a golden day. It was on this day that India was put on the world cricketing map when they won the World Cup for the first time against the mighty West Indies side in 1983. On June 25, 2017, it marked the 34th anniversary of India’s famous as Kapil Dev’s side created history .
India not only won their first-ever World Cup, they ended West Indies’ domination in the limited-overs. West Indies had won the first two editions of the World Cups in 1975 and 1979.
Batting first in a 60-overs-per-side contest, India lost Sunil Gavaskar cheaply. However, the middle order showed a lot of gumption against West Indies’ feared bowling line-up which included Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding.
While several Indian batsmen scored in double digits, it was Krishnamachari Srikkanth’s 57-ball 38 with seven fours and one six was the best performance from any Indian with the bat as they reached 183
In response, the famed West Indies batting flopped, and Richards was the top run-getter with a quick 28-ball 33. Lal had him caught by Kapil at a crucial interval.
From 50 for two, West Indies soon skidded to a precarious position of 76 for six. The Indians were all over them, and despite some resistance from Geoff Dujon and Marshall, they kept marching on. Dujon faced as many as 73 balls to score 25, whereas Marshall hung around long enough to manage 18 off 51.
However, India hung in and kept chipping away. Holding’s was the last wicket that fell, which marked raucous celebrations in India with the scenes of Kapil and his men charging towards the Lord’s pavilion, with a sea of fans chasing them to join the celebrations.
West Indies were bowled out for a mere 140 in 52 overs, with Madan Lal and Mohinder Amarnath claiming three wickets each while Balwinder Sandhu took two for 32 off his nine overs. Amarnath was named the Man of the Match for his haul 7-0-12-3 in addition to a gritty 26.
“We went to Lord’s for the final and again everyone said that India had done well but now we didn’t stand a chance,” Kapil told Wisden India. “Everyone started saying that the West Indies were going to win it once again, for the third time. But I think we had something that no-one knew about. There was something up our sleeve — it was the self-confidence and the self-belief,” Kapil added.
Kapil added, “I still remember that photograph at the Lord’s balcony — the whole team was there, we were dancing and shouting and laughing. We had phenomenal support too. There were so many Indians there, across England and on the field after we won. The celebrations just never ended. Everyone was so proud.”
India are one among the three countries who have won the World Cup tournaments more than once. While West Indies were the first one to do it, Australia opened their account in 1987, and went on to win in 1999, 2003 and 2007. They registered a record fifth World Cup win when they won the 2015 edition held in Australia-New Zealand.
India joined the exclusive club as only the third and most recent entry when MS Dhoni and his team lifted the World Cup trophy in Mumbai in April 2011. India’s win, after 28 years, was also the first for any host nation.