Leaders of champions

8226; KAPIL Dev can either thank his lucky stars, or that one Indian spectator who was present at Tunbridge Wells8212;the desirable holiday town in England8212;for having recorded on his personal camera one of the biggest moments in India8217;s cricketing history.

Lore has it that the spectator who recorded Kapil8217;s 175 against Zimbabwe8212;not relayed on television because of a last-minute slip-up8212;went on and became a millionaire for his prized possession.

The radio had announced how the Indians had been reduced to 17-5 against minnows Zimbabwe and their chances of reaching the semi-final virtually wiped out. It was then that Kapil walked out.

On a square of a wicket in an awkwardly situated ground surrounded by hospitality tents squeezed together, the Indian captain worked magic. With 16 fours and six sixes, he smashed a mammoth 175 off 138 balls that took India to a total of 266 which Zimbabwe would later fail to reach. Those plugged to the radio on June 18, that year, will tell you, 8220;All we could hear the commentator say were three words: 8216;Kapil8217;, 8216;six8217; and 8216;four8217;.8217;8217;

From there, India8212;gaining confidence from their captain8217;s performance8212;went on to eventually shock an over-confident West Indies in the final at Lord8217;s. Even as Vivian Richards kept blasting from the crease, it was once again Kapil8217;s astonishing catch8212;a mistimed pull that he went on to grab running backward and then sideways, that turned the tide in India8217;s favour.

8226; UNLIKE the Indian skipper who lifted the Cup when he was just 24, Pakistan strode into the 1992 tournament under the leadership of the 40-year-old Imran Khan. The Pathan had already walked away into retirement when General Zia-ul Haq and the Pakistani public conveyed their sentiments about wanting him to return.

Spurred by the demands of a cricket-crazy Pakistan, Imran returned and prepared himself for a fight against the odds and, thanks to his slice of luck, returned with the crystal of 8216;92 in his hands.

Indisputably the best man to have led Pakistan ever, he remained his own resolute self when his team of extremely talented individuals needed a leader. From the brink of elimination, he led his side to three consecutive victories in the round-robin league with immense authority and cricketing sense. The fact that he backed the talent of Inzamam-ul Haq and Wasim Akram would go on to fetch unbelievable dividends for Pakistan in the future.

Imran8217;s own half-century in the final was an example of leading from the front and an effort that would change his persona in the echelons of history for ever. From being the aristocratically handsome cricketer who could also bowl fast, to a legend who gave Pakistan their most prized possession in sport.

8226; CAPTAIN Cool had already rubbed the Australians up the wrong side and just when the Aussies were getting desperate to put Sri Lanka in place, he defied them once again. Arjuna Ranatunga, the level-headed 33-year-old Lankan captain, had led his team on the tour of Australia just before the 1996 World Cup when the hosts had received their first indication of what was about to come.

It had been like a storm brewing ever since Ranatunga and Lankan coach Dav Whatmore had practically redesigned the methods of playing one-day cricket8217;s first 15 overs. Ranatunga backed his chief lieutenants Sanath Jayasuriya, Asanka Gurusinha and Aravinda De8217;Silva as they went hammer and tongs all the way to winning the Cup.

The skipper had fought for them when they were sledged, advised them to keep cool when the going got tough, contributed his own share with the bat especially in the final against Australia and marshalled his resources almost perfectly on the sub-continent wickets.

He went to extraordinary lengths to protect his wards, keeping them away from the selectors and administrators. Unlike the difficulties he had gone through at the time of making his own debut constant bickering among selectors over picking him, he reposed faith and got the best in return.