Published: Jun 18, 2015, 05:20 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 18, 2015, 05:20 PM (IST)
No doubt that cricket is a team game but how often have we seen that an individual’s heroics inspires a side to achieve greater things. On this occasion it was Indian captain Kapil Dev. True, that Zimbabwe were minnows in the 1983 World Cup, but they weren’t a weak side. Duncan Fletcher had inspired them to a memorable win against Australia and there was another upset around the corner for the African side who had reduced India to 17 for five at Tunbridge Wells.
On this day, 32 years back, Kapil produced one of the greatest knocks in cricket history to guide India to a win. On a lively wicket that assisted a lot of help to seamers, Kapil launched a counter-attack to smash 175 not out from just 138-balls, in an innings where he belted 16 fours and six sixes. Kapil added 60 with Roger Binny, 62 with Madan Lal, and went on to add an unbeaten 126 for the ninth wicket with Syed Kirmani. It was an absolute brutal knock and it’s unfortunate that an innings of such quality wasn’t televised.
India finished with 266 for eight and pulled off a 31-run win. From 17 for five to a victory, the knock pumped up the Indian side as a week later they went on to win the World Cup.
