On this day, Indian cricket made history when the national side won the 1983 World Cup final by beating the powerful West Indies at the reaction synonyms
Lords’ Cricket Ground. India wrote their own destiny on this legendary day under the inspired leadership of Kapil Dev, cementing their place in cricketing history.
When looking back on the tournament, India’s journey to the final was highlighted by their outstanding performance in Group B, when they won four out of six matches.
They also played against the host nation, England, in the semifinals, and won at Old Trafford to ensure their place in the World Cup Final match. The defending champions’ desire for a hat-trick of World Cup wins provided a serious challenge in the final match.
However, India’s strong bowling lineup surprised their rivals. India won the toss and elected to bat, and they were ultimately bowled out for 183 runs, with Kris Srikkanth leading the innings with 38 runs.
Despite the total appearing to be chasable, India’s bowlers displayed great performance, collectively breaking the West Indies batting order. After each taking three wickets, Mohinder Amarnath and Madan Lal finished as the bowling attack’s best performers.
Their outstanding performance helped India win by 43 runs, cementing their place in cricket mythology and forever changing the course of Indian cricket.
India’s 1983 World Cup Triumph & Celebrations
India’s victory in the 1983 World Cup was not only a major surprise but also a turning point in the country’s cricket history. India had won the famous title for the first time, firmly establishing them as a major force in cricket globally.
Following the victory, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organized a fundraising concert in Mumbai featuring popular Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar. The concert was a success and raised enough money to award each Indian player Rs 1 lakh (approximately $15,000) as a reward. Although this was a small amount compared to the rewards given to players in other countries, it helped to pave the way for the subcontinent to host major cricket events in the future. Four years later, the 1987 Cricket World Cup was held in Asia for the first time, with Reliance Industries as the main sponsor.
Cricket fans from all across the world provided their best reactions as the 40th anniversary of this momentous victory is celebrated. The heroics of Kapil Dev and his team are still fresh in people’s minds, and Lord’s will always have an iconic place in Indian cricket mythology.
