The 1983 Cricket World Cup, held in England, was the third edition of the World Cup. Eight countries took part in the event, out of which England, India, Pakistan and West Indies qualified for the semi-finals
India, under the captaincy of Kapil Dev, defied expectations to win their first-ever World Cup. In the final, played at Lord’s on June 25, 1983, India faced the West Indies, who were the reigning champions and favourites to win.
India’s modest total of 183 seemed insufficient, but an extraordinary bowling and fielding effort saw them bowl out the West Indies for 140, securing a 43-run victory. Kapil Dev’s leadership and a memorable catch to dismiss Viv Richards were pivotal moments. This triumph not only uplifted Indian cricket but also significantly boosted the sport’s popularity across the subcontinent, inspiring future generations of cricketers.
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List of Full Squad of Indan Team for the 1983 World Cup
Kapil Dev (c), Mohinder Amarnath, Kirti Azad, Roger Binny, Sunil Gavaskar, Syed Kirmani (wk), Madan Lal, Sandeep Patil, Balwinder Sandhu, Yashpal Sharma, Ravi Shastri, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Sunil Valson, Dilip Vengsarkar
List of Playing 11 in 1983 World Cup
Sunil Gavaskar, Kris Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, Yashpal Sharma, Sandeep Patil, Kapil Dev (c), Kirti Azad, Roger Binny, Madan Lal, Syed Kirmani (wk), Balwinder Sandhu.
Indian Cricket Team 1983 World Cup – Where Are the Players NowÂ
Sunil Gavaskar
During the 1983 World Cup, Sunil Gavaskar scored just 59 runs in 6 matches. He did not have the best of time with the bat, but his experience was instrumental to India throughout the tournament, at least in the dressing room.
He also played a crucial role in the final by taking two important catches. Gavaskar, now in his 70s, continues to be actively involved in cricket by doing commentary for both international matches and the Indian Premier League. He also writes columns on cricket.Â
Kris Srikkanth
Like Gavaskar, his opening partner Kris Srikkanth too did not score a lot of runs in the 1983 World Cup, finishing with just 156 runs from 8 innings at an average of 19.50.
But it was in the final that he rose to the occasion with a 57-ball 38, which may seem an insignificant number, but it was the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in the final. Post retirement, Srikkanth was the chairman of the BCCI selection committee which picked the 2011 World Cup team. He also briefly coached domestic teams.Â
Mohinder Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath was pivotal in India’s semifinal and final matches. In the semifinal against England, he scored 46 runs and took two wickets.
In the final against the West Indies, he contributed with 26 crucial runs and took three important wickets. Post retirement, Amarnath briefly worked as a national selector and he also has his own cricket academy in Baroda.Â
Yashpal SharmaÂ
Yashpal Sharma scored 240 runs, the second-highest from the Indian team in the 1983 World Cup. He scored a half century in India’s opening game and also in the semifinal. He served as India’s national cricket selector from 2003 to 2006, before passing away in 2021 due to a cardiac arrest.Â
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Sandeep Patil
Sandeep Patil scored 216 runs in eight matches at the 1983 World Cup at an average of 30.85. His best knock was a half-century in the semi-final. He was appointed as the chief of the BCCI Selection Committee in 2012 and currently serves as the director of National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru.
Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev was India’s highest run-scorer in the 1983 World Cup, with 303 runs in 8 matches. He also picked up 12 wickets. After retiring in 1994, he served as coach for the Indian national team from September 1999 to September 2000. Presently, Kapil Dev isn’t active in any cricket activities holds the position of chancellor at the Sports University of Haryana.
Kirti Azad
Kirti Azad appeared in only three matches during the tournament, yet his contribution was significant. In the crucial semifinal against England, Azad claimed the pivotal wicket of Sir Ian Botham. Presently, Azad is an active politician. He secured victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha election for Darbhanga, Bihar. In February 2019, he joined the Indian National Congress. Later, on November 23, 2021, he joined the Trinamool Congress.
Roger Binny
Roger Binny was the highest wicket-taker for India with 18 wickets in eight matches. Currently, Binny is the incumbent president of the BCCI. He was earlier the president of Karnataka State Cricket Association from 2019 to 2022 and the head coach of the Indian U-19 team that won the 2000 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Madan Lal
Madan Lal was the second-highest wicket-taker for India with 17 wickets in eight matches. He picked up three big wickets in the final. After retirement, Lal coached the UAE team for the 1996 Cricket World Cup and served as India’s national cricket coach from September 1996 to September 1997. Additionally, he was a member of the Selection Committee from 2000 to 2001. He also runs a cricket academy in Delhi.
Syed Kirmani
Syed Kirmani, India’s wicketkeeper, scored 61 runs in 6 innings in the 1983 cricket World Cup. A leg injury suffered during the World Series Cup in 1985-86 brought an end to his career. In 1982, Kirmani was honored with the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian cricket. However, he is currently not involved in any cricket-related activities.
Balwinder Sandhu
The seamer picked up eight wickets in as many matches in the 1983 World Cup, while recording an economy rate of just 3.57. Following his retirement, Sandhu coached both the Mumbai and Punjab teams, in addition to his role at the National Cricket Academy. During the 1990s, he played a bit of club cricket in Kenya and also provided coaching services there.
Conclusion
The 1983 Cricket World Cup victory by India was a watershed moment in the history of Indian cricket. Going into the tournament, India was considered an underdog, with little expectation of success against dominant teams like the West Indies.
However, against all odds, India’s triumph in the final not only stunned the cricketing world but also sparked a revolution in Indian cricket. The victory instilled a newfound belief and pride in Indian cricket fans, inspiring generations of players and fans alike.
While 1983 ignited the love for the game, it has now become one of the most followed sport in India. And with fantasy cricket becoming a huge deal, fans are even more invested in every match. Get in on the action with the WinZO Fantasy Cricket app and get involved in all the fun.
