INDIA AT THE CRICKET WORLD CUP - 5 - ANSWERS

 

1. C. Krishnamachari Srikkanth

 

(BBC TV's Peter West with the two captains - Clive Lloyd and Kapil Dev before the toss)

The Indian team led by Kapil Dev were coming into the 1983 tournament as rank outsiders because their predecessors had poor outings in 1975 and 1979, including a defeat to unheralded Sri Lanka. The team had the weight of previous teams massively under-performing in England historically: in all formats, India had played 42 times in England and won twice (a Test against England, an ODI against East Africa) and faced odds of 66/1 to win the World Cup.

 

It was a shock result, indeed, that they beat the mighty West Indies at the Lord’s on 25 June, 1983. It shattered the established world order and put India on the path to the global behemoth they are in the game today.

(The imposing Joel Garner bowling in the 1983 World Cup final.  Garner had taken 5 for 38 in the 1979 final - against India he took 1 for 24 off 12 overs)

(K Srikkanth scored an aggressive 38, 7 fours and a six) 

After defeating England by 6 wickets in the first semi-finals, India faced the fiery Caribbean on the fateful day. This was also the first appearance by an Asian nation in a World Cup final. After losing the toss, India were asked to bat first against a West Indies team that arguably boasted the world's best bowling attack. Gavaskar, who had an unsuccessful tournament was the first batsman got dismissed for 2. But K Srikkanth and M Amarnath had a good partnership taking India past the 50 mark. Soon Srikkanth lost his wicket for an aggressive 38, the top-scorer for India, to Marshall. Amarnath (26) and Sandeep Patil (27) gave some impetus to the crumbling Indian innings which folded for a modest 183.

 

(Celebrations as Gordon Greenidge is bowled for 1 offering no stroke to Balwinder Sandhu)

(The turning point of the final was Kapil Dev's running catch dismiss Viv Richards. West Indies, cruising at 50 for 1 at the time, slumped to 76 for 6 and never recovered)

Chasing the target of 184 to win their third World cup in a row, West Indies were surprised by Balwinder Sandhu as he famously clean bowled Gordon Greenidge with a huge inswinger to which the batsman had shouldered arms. Soon West Indies crossed 50 with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards batting smoothly but both were dismissed by Madan Lal, with the latter to a astonishing "running to the back" catch by skipper Kapil Dev who had deployed himself at short mid-wicket.

 

(The final nail on the Windies Coffin - Michael Holding lbw Mohinder Amarnath for 6)

(Joel Garner and Michael Holding trudge off as behind them jubilant India fans invade the pitch after India won the 1983 World Cup final at Lord's)

A fine spell of bowling by Mohinder Amarnath (3/12) well supported other Indian bowlers saw the defending champions fell to 124/8. Soon Kapil Dev trapped Andy Roberts in front of the wicket and Amarnath clean bowled Michael Holding dismissing West indies for 140 in 52 overs, helping India to lift their maiden Cricket World cup.

2. A. Sunil Gavaskar

 

Despite representing India in 4 World Cups (1975-1987), Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game, never led India in a World Cup match. Gavaskar was captain of the Indian team on several occasions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although his record was less than impressive. Turbulent performances of the team under his leadership led to multiple exchanges of captaincy between Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, with one of Gavaskar's sackings coming just six months before Kapil led India to victory at the 1983 Cricket World Cup.

 

Below is a pictorial presentation of players who led India in different editions of World Cup.

In the latest edition of the World Cup in 2019, Team India was again led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni who equaled the feat of Mohammad Azharuddin in leading India in 3 World Cups (1992, 1996 and 1999).

3. A. Mohammed Shami

 

In its 5th fixture in the 2019 World Cup, against Afghanistan at Rose Bowl, Southampton, Mohammed Shami replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was injured during India's victory over Pakistan in its last match.

 

Chasing a modest target of 225, Afghanistan were on the verge of pulling off an incredible triumph when they required 16 to win in the last over with three wickets in hand. Up to the challenge, Shami produced a brilliant final over scripting a thrilling win for his team.

 

After being hit for a boundary off the 1st ball, Shami started firing yorkers and dismissed the well-set Mohammad Nabi for 52, getting him caught at long-on by Hardik Pandya. Over the next two balls, Shami unleashed 2 lethal yorkers which crashed into the stumps of Aftab Alam and Mujeeb ur Rahman respectively to bring a swift end to Afghanistan's pursuit and became only the second Indian (10th overall) after Chetan Sharma (1987 WC) to take a hat-trick in World Cup.

 

Below is the list of bowlers who have taken hat-tricks in World Cup till date.

4. B. Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

 

Though both India and Pakistan have been participating in the World Cup since its first edition in 1975, the arch-rivals played against each other for the first time only in the 1992 edition at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney on 4th March, 1992 which India won by 89 runs.

 

Since then India has played against Pakistan in each edition of World Cup (except the 2007 edition) and has won each time.

 

Below a brief history of the rivalry between the two neighboring countries in World Cup:

5. B. Debashish Mohanty

 

Since the 1996 World Cup logo featured a batsman, it was decided to design the logo of the 1999 World Cup on a bowler. Indian pace bowler Debashish Mohanty who had an unusual action was used as the official inspiration for the design. Debashish Mohanty who played for India in 2 Tests and 45 ODIs (took 57 wickets) between 1997 and 2001, was himself a last-minute inclusion in the Indian Squad for the 1999 World Cup.

 

At 1999 Cricket World Cup, Mohanty was the second highest Indian wicket taker despite playing four games fewer than the leading Indian wicket taker – Javagal Srinath. He even climbed into the top 20 of the ICC ODI World Rankings. However, with the return of Ajit Agarkar, his opportunities dwindled and he played only another seven games after the 1999 World Cup. Mohanty, who represented Odisha in Ranji Trophy, was instrumental in winning the Sahara Cup series against Pakistan in Toronto in 1997.