If cricket fans have to choose a moment which changed Indian cricket forever, unanimously everyone would say about the 1983 world cup. A underdog India, who were not even considered amongst the top teams playing, managed to surprise the entire cricketing world, including their own countrymen. Most of the players themselves had no belief in the dream of world cup. However, one innings from their skipper changed everything for them.

In spite of defeating the world cup favourites West Indies in the first match of the tournament, and Zimbabwe in the second, there was no hope for the world cup dream. The country of a billion people were satisfied with the two victories, and didn’t expect to go ahead and win the tournament. The assumptions of Indians were further aggravated by the team’s loss against Australia and West Indies. But everything changed for the players and for the countrymen post the magical knock of 175 by the Indian skipper Kapil Dev.

Because no matter what others thought, the Indian skipper Kapil Dev had a clear goal of lifting the world cup. And he was ready to face any challenge coming his way. He knew it that the match against Zimbabwe was going to decide India’s fate in the tournament. Having won 2 matches, and lost 2 till then, it was a do or die match for India if they wanted be in the hunt. And no one else, but the skipper put his heart on the sleeve.

The match began as a nightmare for Indians, as they lost both the openers for duck. Kevin Curran (father of Sam Curran) and Peter Rawson were breathing fire. They dismantled the Indian bating lineup. India were reeling at 9/4 , when Kapil was called out to bat. Kapil, who was bathing then initially thought it was a prank by his teammates just to get him out of the shower. But it was no more a joke when he understood what the situation was. He had to come in a haste on the crease, and therefore took some time for him to come out.

India’s hopes relied on the pair of Yashpal Sharma and Kapil Dev and were lost when the former was dismissed, leaving India in a state of despair as scorecard said 17/5. Having lost most all of their top batters, and with only last recognized batter on strike, India were in deep trouble. Only a miracle could’ve saved them from this situation. And a miracle did happen.

Initially playing the swinging ball cautiously, skipper took his time, and then accelerating slowly and steadily, he kept the scoreboard moving. Initially Kapil took the pressure off the India team, and then started to put pressure on the Zimbabwe bowlers. He took some time, but once he started hitting long sixes, there was no looking back. One of those long sixes hit the glass of the Indian dressing room and suddenly charged up the Indian players who were sitting with their heads down.

Fondly recalling the incident, one of the team members Sandeep Patil said “We all were inside the dressing room, and none of us had the courage to watch the match. But that six which hit the dressing room glass kind of woke us up, and we rushed to the gallery. Since then, none of us moved from our positions from we were watching. And the sixes which we witnessed that day were the longest sixes we have ever witnessed”. Such was the intensity of that knock.

The Zimbabwe bowlers till then were feeling a pinch of pressure. When during the lunch in mid-innings, the scorecard looked 122/8 in 36 overs, Kapil chose to opt for the mongoose bat giving clear indication that he is now going to take the charge of the match. He recalls that during his lunch, he was infuriated with the other Indian batters. But none of the players, most of whom were his seniors came to speak to him during lunch. He said that the players let him be himself, which helped him further to get his frustration on the field by taking on the bowlers.

In the 24 overs post lunch, India scored a total of 144 runs without losing a wicket. Kapil thrashed every bowlers to every nook and corner of the ground. Witnesses say that the drives coming out of Kapil’s bat were pure magic. While all of this was happening, Syed Kirmani was glad to get a single and give strike back to the skipper, who would unsettle the Zimbabwe team. He reached to his century, and in a matter of time he went on to cross 150 run mark. He had no clue that he was about to break the world record for maximum individual score.

At the end of 60 overs, India had scored 266 runs at the loss of 8 wickets. And Kapil Dev’s individual score was 175, which was a world record. His gritty knock of 175 runs took the team from 17/5 to 266/8. This was the very first century for India in ODI’s, and it came for India in a do or die match. But more than just the records, this century gave hope to the Indian team to win this match first, and then it boosted morale of all the players who then played for their skipper’s dream of World Cup.

Like a phoenix rising from ashes, Kapil Dev brought back expectations of the Indian supporters to life, and showed his teammates the path of how they can accomplish what no one is expecting out of them. The world did not witness the innings due to a strike by broadcasters on the same day, but they did witness the changed in the attitude of Indian team post then who never lost a match in the tournament later on. Tunbridge Wells was blessed to witness Kapil Dev weave magic that day. And India is blessed to have Kapil Dev and will forever be grateful for what he did for Indian cricket.