Kapil Dev’s image of holding the World Cup trophy at Lord’s is seared into the memories of every Indian cricket fan. It was a moment of triumph that inspired a generation of Indians to take up the game of cricket seriously. Forty years ago today, the Kapil Dev-led Indian cricket team defied the odds and won the Cricket World Cup, defeating the mighty West Indies in the final at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
India was not considered a favorite to win the tournament, but they played with great skill and determination. They defeated some of the best teams in the world, including the West Indies, who were the defending champions. The victory was a source of great pride for India, and it helped to boost the popularity of cricket in the country.
Today, cricket is one of the most popular sports in India, and the 1983 World Cup victory is still remembered as one of the greatest sporting achievements in the country’s history. The victory was also a watershed moment for Indian cricket. It showed the world that India was a force to be reckoned with, and it helped to change the way that the country was perceived on the global stage.
Most Indian cricketers arrived in England expecting the World Cup to be merely a stopover because they did not expect to advance beyond the league stage. They had planned a vacation to the United States, where they would play a series of friendly matches, anticipating an early exit. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the newlywed opener, had even planned his honeymoon! All plans had to be scrapped as a result of the outcomes achieved by the players on the pitch. Srikkanth had to cancel his tickets as well and later joked that Kapil owed him money for the inconvenience.
