Century Snapshots 1983

The spell that Kapil's Devils woveEven as the whole of India was holding its breath, waiting to switch on TV sets at that appointed hour o...

The spell that Kapil8217;s Devils wove
Even as the whole of India was holding its breath, waiting to switch on TV sets at that appointed hour on June 25, 1983, Indians in London woke up much before residents of St John8217;s Woods could pick up the milk bottles and newspapers from their doorstep to a dilemma: they needed a ticket for the World Cup finals to be played at The Lord8217;s cricket grounds.

Ever since they played their first Test match in 1930, the Indians had spent 53 chivalrous years, waiting and waiting for Godot. However, nobody, not even the most optimistic of Indian supporters, would have foreseen such a possibility coming to pass, even a month before the Prudential World Cup began. And here were Kapil8217;s Devils challenging the mighty West Indians for the world title! But how the mighty fell that day!

Even as many Indian cities witnessed riotous scenes, at The Lord8217;s it was becoming increasingly impossible to keep count of the tricolours being waved below the Indian team8217;s dressing roomwhen Kapil Dev, with the smile on his dimpled cheeks getting wider and wider, lifted the World Cup. The seeds of this win were sown in a small Carribean island called Berbice earlier that year, when India beat the West Indies in a one-dayer. Kapil8217;s young and energetic captaincy had brought a whiff of fresh air to Indian cricket.

He led by example, becoming the first Indian to score a ton and to take five wickets in an ODI in the tournament itself. Aggression was the key as players like Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Sandeep Patil and Kapil himself shed the typical Indian defensive frame of mind. Lending solidity were the experienced and legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Yashpal Sharma and comeback king Mohinder Amarnath. But, the World Cup was won by the seamers, rather than the all-rounders 8212; Kapil, Madan Lal, Amarnath and the tournament8217;s highest wicket-taker Roger Binny.

Starting with wins over the West Indies and Zimbabwe, India lost to Australia in the first round of the league stage. TheWest Indies avenged their loss in the return game but the next game was probably the defining moment for India. In a small and sleepy town of Turnbridge Wells, Indians were 17 for 5 when Kapil strode in. What followed next could only be described by the few thousands present there. Six sixes and 16 fours flowed from Kapil8217;s blade. He got his unbeaten 175 and the Indians never looked back.

This is the last feature in the Century Snapshots series. From next week we will look at the technologies, concepts and gadgets that transformed the world over the last 100 years.