KAPILS DEVIL’S 1983

KAPILS DEVIL’S 1983

The city was a furnace, sweltering under maximal heat. The year was 1983, 25^th June and the place was Delhi. It was a truly momentous day. Multitudes had marched to the Ram Lila grounds to listen to former Prime Minister of India, Shri Chandrashekar who had trekked all the way from Kanyakumari to Delhi championing the cause of the down trodden and the oppressed, and advocating a  socialistic ideology to metamorphose India. Flags of several political parties fluttered at the podium at the culmination of what was termed as ‘Bharat Yatra.’

Meanwhile, motley groups of office goers, corporate honchos and stiff babus and bureaucrats, all took a break from their schedules. Two-time world cricket champions, the brawny West Indies were to play against a fledgling Indian team. The match against the Windies was tipped to be a ‘David and Goliath’ contest.  In fact Ladbrokes, the punters, had bet heavily against the Indian team. All the pundits of the game had written off India much before the commencement of the game.

But such individuals were outnumbered by Indians across the cricket insane subcontinent. For them it was a moment of reverie as the Indians defeated the Pommies in the semi-final match, much to the consternation of British populace and media. Truly, a ‘Lagaan’ moment for Indian cricket!

Sunny Gavaskar, India’s premier opening batsman was to famously remark on the eve of the match, that either way one set of Indians would romp home.

The fascinating and riveting journey

The entire tournament had been a roller coaster ride for the Indian squad. It was a chilly June 18^th as Indians braced to face Zimbabwe in a preliminary encounter at Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells. Indians soon were reeling at 17 for 5, when the captain stepped in and with the tail hammered 175, not out. India went on to amass 265 for 8 in their stipulated 60 overs. They successfully defended the total as Zimbabwe was bowled out for 235. Alas, BBC was on strike on that particular day and Indian cricket fans could not witness the pyrotechnics of Kapil.

Let’s rewind to the dramatis persona of the finale of the 1983 Prudential Cup, played at Lord’s, the Mecca of cricket. The insignificant and lowly ranked Indian eleven consisted of Gavskar, Srikanth, Amarnath, Yashpal Sharma, Sandeep Patil, Kapil Dev, Kirti Azad, Roger Binny, Madan Lal, Syed Kirmani and Balwinder Singh Sandhu. Very few big names, but the Indians played with grit and self belief under the dynamic leadership of Kapil Dev and had advanced to the semi-final stage by winning 4 games and sustaining two bruises against more fancied squads in their group. Each game was a learning curve and strengthened the resolve and camaraderie in the dressing room.

The majesty and swagger of West Indians, burgeoning with talent, comprised of Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Clive Lloyd, Larry Gomes, Bacchus, Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshal, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Michael Holding.

The entire cricketing fraternity expected the hapless Indians to be pummelled by the ferocity and sheer prowess of the West Indians. But the impossible happened on that fateful day.  

Gautama Buddha had stated aeons ago that nothing is permanent in this world; the only permanent thing in life is impermanence. The final match seemed to vindicate this sutra of the Sakyan Prince.

Put in to bat, the Indians were bundled out for a paltry 183 in 54.4 overs (the game consisted of 60 overs at that time), at an average of 3.34 runs per over.

In response, the hubristic West Indians torpedoed to 140 in 52 overs, losing the match by 43 runs. Mohinder Amarnath with his amiable out swingers chipped in 3 wickets and conceded barely 12 runs off 7 overs, which would make even the canniest bowler proud. In the bargain he won the coveted Man of the Match trophy, while Srikanth scored 38 runs to become the highest scorer in that particular game.

That particular finale has had far reaching consequences on the contours of the sport. Today India is a major power house while the West Indians are hardly the threatening squad they once used to be.

Meanwhile, India as a cricketing powerhouse has put IPL firmly on the cricketing map.  T20 has metamorphosed the cricketing world and the shorter version of the game has added glamour and chutzpah to the sport. It would be noteworthy to mention the two legendary and celebrated figures, Kerry Packer and Jagmohan Dalmia, who were the trigger agents to transfigure the game.

 Today colour apparel has replaced gentlemanly whites and the red cherry has given way to white and pinkish coloured cricketing balls. Cricket is now played under lights and on occasion even in indoor stadia. Most importantly precious sponsorship has come in, bringing in moolah to the game.

Back in 1983 it was a high octane moment as Kapil Dev lofted the cup and sprayed champagne, while in one corner of Lords sat a desolate West Indian team.