Eight iconic images that defined cricket in India

#2 Kapil Dev holding the 1983 Prudential World Cup

Kapil Dev with the Prudential Cup in his hands

It was the third edition of the ODI World Cup and the final of the tournament can easily go down as one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Cup cricket. Not even Indian cricket’s staunchest supporters would have envisioned the World Cup trophy in the hands of the Indian skipper Kapil Dev. But as they say, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.

It definitely was a remarkable achievement for the Indian team, who were underdogs in the tournament. Although they reached the finals against all odds, no one expected them to win against the mighty West Indies. It was taken for granted that the men from the Caribbean islands would complete a hat-trick of World Cup titles (they had already won the World Cup in 1975 & 1979).

Things were going according to script in the first half as the Indians were bundled out for 183. But then the unexpected happened. Kapil took a brilliant catch running backwards to dismiss the king Vivian Richards. Thereafter, the Indians did not allow the West Indians to recover and eventually dismissed them for 140 runs to emerge as world champions.

The picture of Kapil Dev holding the World Cup trophy on the Lord’s balcony was engraved in the heart of every Indian forever.