Kapil’s 175 turned India’s fortunes: Gavaskar

On June 18, 1983, India were tumbling at 17 for five when skipper Kapil walked out to bat.

However, at no point of time he ever imagined that he would script the opening chapter in the history of Indian cricket as a win in that game could have only saved his team from relegation.

Kapil, showed his prowess with the bat and hammered a 175-run unbeaten innings in just 138 balls in Nevile ground in Kent. Eventually, it was his innings, studded with 16 fours and six sixes, that registered the all-important 31 runs victory and a lifeline for India in the tournament.

“Kapil’s 175 against Zimbabwe was remarkable and was the turning point of the tournament and in our lives too. He showed us the way with the gutsy innings,” said Gavaskar at the felicitation ceremony of the Kapil’s Devils here last night.

“Can you imagine India, who were considered as no-hopers before the tournament began, went on to lift the trophy. But without Kapil we could not have done that,” he added.