Everyone had written them off. When the score is 17/5, you would too. But the captain did not. This month in 1983, Kapil Dev scripted the most impossible win in the history of Indian cricket…paving the way for another near-impossibility – India lifting the World Cup. A glimpse from Indian sports’ most hair-raising day
This article was first published in June 2022.
"It is here that we found belief” — Kapil Dev at Tunbridge Well, Kent, England in 2008 remembering his June 1983 innings of 175 not out.
Your best batsman out for zero. Your biggest hitter out for zero. Your best-performing batsman of the season out for 5. Your most stylish batsman of the tournament out for 1. And the last recognised batsman of your team gone for 9. You are five wickets down for 17 runs and the now almost-certain defeat in this match will eliminate you from the World Cup tournament. You are still at the crease.
"It is here that we found belief” — Kapil Dev at Tunbridge Well, Kent, England in 2008 remembering his June 1983 innings of 175 not out.
Your best batsman out for zero. Your biggest hitter out for zero. Your best-performing batsman of the season out for 5. Your most stylish batsman of the tournament out for 1. And the last recognised batsman of your team gone for 9. You are five wickets down for 17 runs and the now almost-certain defeat in this match will eliminate you from the World Cup tournament. You are still at the crease.