As a child, I remember, my mother and uncle used to tell me about greatest moments in sports- two events were mentioned more often than others. First was Bjorn Borg’s famous five-setter win over McEnroe in 1980 and the other being India’s World Cup triumph.
I was not even born when India lift the World Cup in 1983. But the visuals of that famous victory are so afresh in mind as if I have witnessed it myself. Well, that is the case with many young Indians of my generation. Many of us have grown up listening to the stories of that great victory.
Truly, 25th June 1983 was the day of India. All changed within those eight hours at Lords. An underdog team crushed the double world champions and got the Prudential Cup. Nobody had thought that this will ever come to reality. Nobody had even dreamt of it. It was only the self belief of those 14 men and the strong will of their exceptional leader that made the impossible possible. That moment, accelerated the Cricket in this nation and that moment still inspires us.
25 years hence that splendid run, Cricket in India has grown up to new highs. The country has become financial hub of this game. We have got a bunch of famous victories, but nothing can still match the intensity of that day. What is it that makes 1983 victory so special?
I was not even born when India lift the World Cup in 1983. But the visuals of that famous victory are so afresh in mind as if I have witnessed it myself. Well, that is the case with many young Indians of my generation. Many of us have grown up listening to the stories of that great victory.
Truly, 25th June 1983 was the day of India. All changed within those eight hours at Lords. An underdog team crushed the double world champions and got the Prudential Cup. Nobody had thought that this will ever come to reality. Nobody had even dreamt of it. It was only the self belief of those 14 men and the strong will of their exceptional leader that made the impossible possible. That moment, accelerated the Cricket in this nation and that moment still inspires us.
25 years hence that splendid run, Cricket in India has grown up to new highs. The country has become financial hub of this game. We have got a bunch of famous victories, but nothing can still match the intensity of that day. What is it that makes 1983 victory so special?
It is perhaps the fact that it came at a time when the country needed hope. It came at a time when nobody expected India to do well. It came at a time when Indian Hockey had started loosing it's Olympic glory.
It is so special because it stirred the middle class of this country and inspired them to get over the miseries of their lives. That was a once in the lifetime moment which awokened the aspirations of this country- a perfect example of how a sport can have a profound impact on the nations.
And it is more special because it was brought by the new age-Indians like the Captain Kapil Dev, who came not from the metros, who had not got the Oxford degrees under their belt, but who dared to take risks, who dared to challenge the mighty and were ready to fight till the end.
Kudos to that glorious generation!
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