Flash back: 1983 Prudential Cup, Kapil Dev led India to history !! ..... Twenty years later 2003..... India lost to Australia in finals with a poor performance

 In 1983, Kapil Dev was the hero. The Indian skipper who led India to history by winning the Prudential Cup. The World Cup then was 60 overs game; but in the final India could score only 183.

Everyone had given up hopes. I was in Shillong, St Anthony's High School, a Don Bosco Institute those days "only for boys". The final match was on Saturday afternoon-late night (IST) as the match was played in Lords, London.

Monday ...we had lot to cheer about. Half yearly exam was bound to be disturbed. I think we had Science exam on that particular Monday.

My hero of 1983 World Cup was Mohinder Amarnath, fondly called Jimmy. The master of hook and slow pacer with a golden arm; Amarnath was man of the match -- in two crucial matches (against England) in Semi Final and against West Indies in the final.

 

There were a few major highlights of the World Cup final, 1983 at Lords. It was Krishnamachari Srikanth's 38 runs score including a square drive kneeling down. The powerful West Indies fast bowlers could not dampen the spirit of the opening star. Sunil Gavaskar was not in form in the entire tournament but his presence was counted and Kapil banked on his counseling in field placing. Sunny took important catches in the slip including in the final. 

Jimmy had scored 26 runs of India's total of 183 and took three wickets. Yashpal Sharma and players to watch fondly included the likes of Roger Binny. And then there was Madan Lal. Viv Richards was in hurry and probably wanted to win the tournament in style. His stellar and ominous performance was stalled by Madan Lal and here Kapil gave his best to take a historic catch.

In the World Cup of 1983, India began their group match against underrated Zimbabwe rather poorly. Five wickets were down with less than 20 runs on the score board and then Kapil saved the day with his 175 knock. It was a captain leading from the front. 

Historic catch ! Viv's exit made things possible 

 

Srikanth - the knees and his bat 

2003 ..... India met Australia in the final that year. There was a character called Manidra Bedi in the commentary box who only made foolish remarks on players and the game, she knew little or knew nothing!  And Sony TV allowed the drama !! 

Ricky Ponting slammed an unbeaten 140 in the 2003 World Cup final vs India.  Far off somewhere George Bush had ordered bombing of Iraq. But the quality of Aussie batting in the final made Bush appear a 'better  gentleman'.

Australia scored 359 for only 2 wkts in 50 Overs. 

Rickey Ponting got his 140 off 121 balls and that included 8 sixes and 4 boundaries (four). Damien Martyn got 88 off 84 balls.

Facing such a total, Indian batting collapsed for 234 in just 39.2 overs. Virender Sehwag, a new generation batting sensation, scored a face saving 82 from 81 deliveries. The so-called God of Cricket failed and he lasted there only for five balls and got only 4 runs.

Australia won the match by 125 runs.  

(I was returning from an important family/private visit to Tripura. On the day of the final match me and my dad --- a well known cricket buff in the family circle - we were in Guwahati. Sister Mahua (Singh) had hosted a special lunch with mutton. The food was the only wonderful thing that day and my brother-in-law's offer of Rasogolla could not help us and we found everything bitter.)  

2015 Semi final against Australia was another memorable day but 'sad'.   

Virat Kohli was 'Hurt' after fans blamed Anushka for India's World Cup exit....

In the semi final, India crumbled within 233 runs in 46.5 overs.

Steven Smith scored a brilliant 105 runs off 93 balls, with Aaron Finch supporting the innings with an 81-run knock of 116 balls. 

Umesh Yadav picked up four wickets for India. Australia posted a target of 329 runs.

Virat Kohli contributed just one run and faced 13 balls. Rohit Sharma had scored 34 and Shikhar Dhawan got 45 off 41 balls.

"At a human level, I would say I was hurt and the people who said those things and the way they said should be ashamed of themselves," Virat Kohli had said sometime later referring to cricket fans and critics blaming his friend actress Anushka for the batting debacle.  

Great Expectations, 2023 !!