Kris Srikkanth reveals how skipper Kapil Dev boosted players after India got all out for 183 in 1983 World Cup final

No Indian fan can forget the sight of Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup trophy at Lord’s after defeating the mighty West Indies. Kapil Dev and his troops, after being considered as underdogs of the tournament, turned the tables and clinched the showpiece event to script history.

However, it wasn’t an easy task for India in the final to topple a dominant West Indies side, especially they bundled out for 183 in the first innings. After being asked to bat first, the Men in Blue failed to post a challenging total on the board and they succumbed to the likes of Sir Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding.

No other India batsman apart from Kris Srikkanth reached into his 30s, and the target looked like a cakewalk for the robust West Indies side. However, Kapil Dev had other plans and his pep-talk changed and uplifted the whole team to etched their name into the record books.

Srikkanth, in a recent interview, reminisced the memories of lifting the 1983 World Cup and revealed how skipper Kapil boosted the team’s atmosphere ahead of the second innings.

It was the turning point for Indian cricket: Kris Srikkanth

“With the batting line-up that West Indian had and looking at 183, we thought we had no scope at all,” Srikkanth said on Star Sports 1 Tamil show ‘Winning the Cup – 1983’. “But Kapil Dev said one thing and he didn’t say we can win but he said – look guys we have got out for 183 and we should give resistance and not give away the match so easily,” he added.

Kapil’s pep-talk eventually paid off as India stunned West Indies and bowled them out for 140 to lift the coveted trophy. Srikkanth even termed it as the turning point for Indian cricket.

“It was the turning point for Indian cricket and for Indians. At a time when cricket was dominated by West Indies, Australia, New Zealand and others, a total underdog Indians became the world champions,” Srikkanth further said.

“We did not feel that much pressure. Because favourites were West Indies, they were 1975 & 1979 champions, dominating world cricket, so we thought it was a big deal making it to the finals itself,” he concluded.