I was then a 14 year old boy studying in 10th standard.School was just re opened.India lost two series against Pakistan and West Indies almost one sided.Team was announced without a team manager.A group photo,I still remember in Mathrubhoomi daily under the newly appointed captain Kapil.Team was full of alrounders.Former Australian Captain Kim Hughes warned the world to be beware of the Indian team.I remember reading the news in Mathrubhoomi daily.I was excited with the prospect of hearing the running commentary on BBC in the National Panasonic Radio in my house.Those days television was not at all seen by anybody in my village.In the month of June rain has started.West indies had an unassailable supremacy in world cricket.Indias first match was against West indies on June 9th.That was thursday.I dont know why every test matches and important tournaments starts on thursday in England.Commencement of the play delayed due to rain.I could tune to BBC only by 07.00 PM.Commentary was available on short wave 16metre band. On the first day there was a surprise.Zimbabwe,a new comer defeated Australia on the first match. Indias match extended to second day.Chasing 289 west Indies fell short of 30 agonising runs.There india warned the world.Devils of Kapil started the world cup campaign.India easily overcame the challenge of Zimbabwe by defeating them by 5 wickets.India lost to Australia in the third match.In the first match in the second round west indies took revenge on India second round match aganst Zimbabwe was crucial but they had something hidden under their sleeves .India were 9 for4,17 for5,61 for6 127for7,169 for 8 .That day world had seen the best ever world cup innings from Kapil Dev who had single handedly retrieved India from a desperate position 9 for 4 in extremely difficult circumstances.He remained unbeaten on 175 at the end of 60 overs.I forgot to say the play was 60 overs each.India won the match by narrow margin.This innings was a booster for Indian team.By this time rain has intensified in our village and we are thrilled by the prospect of entering the semifinals.India had done it by defeating Australia in the final match.
It was a nothing to loose situation for India.Nobody expected the team to enter semi finals.Big Australians,Newzealand were out.Remeber in the previous two world cups India had won against east Africa only.India had even lost to Srilanka in the world cup in 1979.
India had to face England and everyybody were looking forward to a England –West Indies final.But we had another idea thanks to some brilliant bowling from Keerthi Azad and Mohinder Amarnath.They bowled 24 overs between them conseding just 55 runs and removing 4 Englishmen.That included Gatting,Alan Lamb,Botham and Gover.England were restricted to 213 in 60 overs .Targest looked modest.But India started slowly with 110 for 2 in the 42nd over,with English bowlers giving nothing away.From that point Amarnath,Yashpal and later Sandeep Patil laounched a brilliant display of Batsman ship to sail india through to the final with 5 overs to spare.Mohinder was adjudged Man of the Match for his alround performance.Later it was Patil who had made it easy.Exactly one year before at the same venue at Manchester Old Traford Sandeep scored a brilliant hundred to save India from a possible follow on.He hit Bob willis the then English captain for 6 boudaries in one over.Before the start of the over he was 80 not out and after the over he was 104 not out.What a way to score a hundred!!!.....He repeated the performance in this match,he hit Bob Willis for 3 fours in one over.Not many knows the brilliance of Patil.He was handsome and acted in films.He was very attractive,attacking batsman from Bombay.Later he became Indias coach.
So…..India in final!!!......ready to face West Indies.Who is looking forward to complete the Hat trick world cup win.With star steaded team.Greenidge & Hynes most successful opening pair in the world.Richard ,the prince of Cricket.And nothing to say about the four Fast Bowlers,Roberts,Garner,Holding and Manclom Marshal…..A brilliant wicket Keeper Batsman Jef Dujon.
It was June 25th.I had a lunch.Match starts at 3.30 Indian time.I was looking at the wall clock impatiently for the start of the play.The pitch was helping bowlers in the Lords,the Meca of Cricket was full of grass.Clive Loyd the windies Captain won the toss and he had no hesitation to choose to field first.I had a tea and banana fry made by mother.The Radio was tuned to high volume so that no part of the match would be missed unheard.Cristefer Martin Jenkin,Henry the BBC Commentators were geared to top form.That day Akashvani also relayed the Commentary.''Namaskar Ab Ham apko England ke Lords stadium par liye chalte hai,jahan se aap Bharath our west Indies ke beech men ghelnewale wishwa kap final match ka ankhon dekha hal angrejee me sunenge…..''
Play started,much for our disappointment India were 2 for no lose in 8 overs with ball moving around the bat in top speed stranding Sreekant and Gavaskar helpless.Soon Gavaskar was out for 2.Gavaskar failed in the world cup with only 38 runs in 6 innings he played.But his presence was all the more important and India lost two matches in the world cup in which Gavaskar was dropped for want of form.Mohinder joined Sree.He hooked west Indian fast bowlers infront of his nose to get boundariesSoon sree also started attacking.Mohinder was technically the best player against fast bowling was again heading towards a good score .Sree delivered his best innings in the world cup final.He scored 38 before he was LBW to Marshal.But much for our disappointment Mohinder and Yashpal got out soon and India were 90 for 4 at the strock of Lunch in 30 overs.Soon after lunch India collapsed to 129 for 8 and eventually 183 all out ,thanks to some resistance by Kirmani and Sandhu in the end.
In the mind of Cricket followers there was not much doubt left.It was just matter of time when the game be finished.Soon windies were 50 for 1 with Richard hoping to fininsh the game within 30 overs,bowlers were stranded,they couldn’t do anything infront of the brilliance of Richards and the windies fans started celebration.Suddenly drama has started Hynes got out,and Richards was caught brilliantly by Kapil.Gomes and Loyd followed them and Bachus caught beautifully by Kirmani.And by now windies were 66 for 6 and we had a game on our hand.The catch taken by Kapil to dismiss Riachrds was brilliant according to Commentatros.Richards hooked a short pitched ball to squire leg and Kapil was fielding at short squire leg and he had to run about 14 yards to take the catch.Richards was yelling for the second run.Suddenly Kapil reached under the ball and catched it and was walking as though nothing had happened.There was no anguish in his face.No angry words.No signal of arrogance He made it so simple.That was the greatness of Kapil he himself knew that here is the turning point and I had the man.I went to weekly Bhajan then.Bhajan was inevitable for me.The Mandir was near my house.(Durgaparameshwari Bhajana Mandira).In between the bhajans i couldnt control the excitement,I came back to listen the latest stage and I found my father was listening to the commentary for the first time that too in my absence.Dujaon and Marshal was trying to retrieve the team.After Bhajan I came back and found that the score was past 100 for 6 and the partnership was threatening and the overs of main bowlers were almost finished and windies have plenty of overs to play.Soon Kapil tossed the ball to Amaranth.Who with his gentle medium pace removed both Marshal and Dujone.Kapil removed Roberts.In the end Holding was trapped lbw and India were at the top of the world.Yes we won the world cup……………critics said it was only accidental.But if should study thinks carefully it was the brilliance of Kapils devils that made the prudential world cup to come to the subcontinent.That was half past 12 on 26/06/2009 I slept with full of joy.And I hoped not to sleep.I slept with my father talking until father warned me not to talk and have sleep,then when i dont know sleep had overcome me to end a glorious day to think of all through my life.I still remember each and every moments of that day.Because I recollect such wonderfull occassions every now and then to keep myself excited.The face of Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential World Cup,was unforgettable.Innocent,full of joy,no mask over his face,broken English to express his veiws infront of the world.
It was a nothing to loose situation for India.Nobody expected the team to enter semi finals.Big Australians,Newzealand were out.Remeber in the previous two world cups India had won against east Africa only.India had even lost to Srilanka in the world cup in 1979.
India had to face England and everyybody were looking forward to a England –West Indies final.But we had another idea thanks to some brilliant bowling from Keerthi Azad and Mohinder Amarnath.They bowled 24 overs between them conseding just 55 runs and removing 4 Englishmen.That included Gatting,Alan Lamb,Botham and Gover.England were restricted to 213 in 60 overs .Targest looked modest.But India started slowly with 110 for 2 in the 42nd over,with English bowlers giving nothing away.From that point Amarnath,Yashpal and later Sandeep Patil laounched a brilliant display of Batsman ship to sail india through to the final with 5 overs to spare.Mohinder was adjudged Man of the Match for his alround performance.Later it was Patil who had made it easy.Exactly one year before at the same venue at Manchester Old Traford Sandeep scored a brilliant hundred to save India from a possible follow on.He hit Bob willis the then English captain for 6 boudaries in one over.Before the start of the over he was 80 not out and after the over he was 104 not out.What a way to score a hundred!!!.....He repeated the performance in this match,he hit Bob Willis for 3 fours in one over.Not many knows the brilliance of Patil.He was handsome and acted in films.He was very attractive,attacking batsman from Bombay.Later he became Indias coach.
So…..India in final!!!......ready to face West Indies.Who is looking forward to complete the Hat trick world cup win.With star steaded team.Greenidge & Hynes most successful opening pair in the world.Richard ,the prince of Cricket.And nothing to say about the four Fast Bowlers,Roberts,Garner,Holding and Manclom Marshal…..A brilliant wicket Keeper Batsman Jef Dujon.
It was June 25th.I had a lunch.Match starts at 3.30 Indian time.I was looking at the wall clock impatiently for the start of the play.The pitch was helping bowlers in the Lords,the Meca of Cricket was full of grass.Clive Loyd the windies Captain won the toss and he had no hesitation to choose to field first.I had a tea and banana fry made by mother.The Radio was tuned to high volume so that no part of the match would be missed unheard.Cristefer Martin Jenkin,Henry the BBC Commentators were geared to top form.That day Akashvani also relayed the Commentary.''Namaskar Ab Ham apko England ke Lords stadium par liye chalte hai,jahan se aap Bharath our west Indies ke beech men ghelnewale wishwa kap final match ka ankhon dekha hal angrejee me sunenge…..''
Play started,much for our disappointment India were 2 for no lose in 8 overs with ball moving around the bat in top speed stranding Sreekant and Gavaskar helpless.Soon Gavaskar was out for 2.Gavaskar failed in the world cup with only 38 runs in 6 innings he played.But his presence was all the more important and India lost two matches in the world cup in which Gavaskar was dropped for want of form.Mohinder joined Sree.He hooked west Indian fast bowlers infront of his nose to get boundariesSoon sree also started attacking.Mohinder was technically the best player against fast bowling was again heading towards a good score .Sree delivered his best innings in the world cup final.He scored 38 before he was LBW to Marshal.But much for our disappointment Mohinder and Yashpal got out soon and India were 90 for 4 at the strock of Lunch in 30 overs.Soon after lunch India collapsed to 129 for 8 and eventually 183 all out ,thanks to some resistance by Kirmani and Sandhu in the end.
In the mind of Cricket followers there was not much doubt left.It was just matter of time when the game be finished.Soon windies were 50 for 1 with Richard hoping to fininsh the game within 30 overs,bowlers were stranded,they couldn’t do anything infront of the brilliance of Richards and the windies fans started celebration.Suddenly drama has started Hynes got out,and Richards was caught brilliantly by Kapil.Gomes and Loyd followed them and Bachus caught beautifully by Kirmani.And by now windies were 66 for 6 and we had a game on our hand.The catch taken by Kapil to dismiss Riachrds was brilliant according to Commentatros.Richards hooked a short pitched ball to squire leg and Kapil was fielding at short squire leg and he had to run about 14 yards to take the catch.Richards was yelling for the second run.Suddenly Kapil reached under the ball and catched it and was walking as though nothing had happened.There was no anguish in his face.No angry words.No signal of arrogance He made it so simple.That was the greatness of Kapil he himself knew that here is the turning point and I had the man.I went to weekly Bhajan then.Bhajan was inevitable for me.The Mandir was near my house.(Durgaparameshwari Bhajana Mandira).In between the bhajans i couldnt control the excitement,I came back to listen the latest stage and I found my father was listening to the commentary for the first time that too in my absence.Dujaon and Marshal was trying to retrieve the team.After Bhajan I came back and found that the score was past 100 for 6 and the partnership was threatening and the overs of main bowlers were almost finished and windies have plenty of overs to play.Soon Kapil tossed the ball to Amaranth.Who with his gentle medium pace removed both Marshal and Dujone.Kapil removed Roberts.In the end Holding was trapped lbw and India were at the top of the world.Yes we won the world cup……………critics said it was only accidental.But if should study thinks carefully it was the brilliance of Kapils devils that made the prudential world cup to come to the subcontinent.That was half past 12 on 26/06/2009 I slept with full of joy.And I hoped not to sleep.I slept with my father talking until father warned me not to talk and have sleep,then when i dont know sleep had overcome me to end a glorious day to think of all through my life.I still remember each and every moments of that day.Because I recollect such wonderfull occassions every now and then to keep myself excited.The face of Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential World Cup,was unforgettable.Innocent,full of joy,no mask over his face,broken English to express his veiws infront of the world.
Many critics said that it was only accidental.But Indial proved it wrong by winning the Benson & Hedjes World Cup,Rothmans Cup & Australasia Cup within three years.
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