Page 7 - Seniorstoday December 2022 Issue
P. 7
casting vote, was recalled to lead the team v Sri Lanka, Manchester, 1979 World
against West Indies that winter at home. Cup, SL 238-5, India 191, SL won by 47
runs
Courtesy - Cricketcountry.com
v England, Lord’s, 1975 World Cup 334-4,
India 132-3, Eng won by 202 runs
Before the 1983 redemption song, India
suffered another humiliating setback
in World Cup tournaments when they
lost to Sri Lanka in 1979. The Lankans
then were still not full members of the
ICC and considered a minnow side. But
in this match, they were an inspired lot,
getting the better of their more illustrious
opponents by 47 runs.
v England, Bombay, 1987 World Cup, Eng
India’s first match in the inaugural World 254-6, India 219, Eng won by 35 runs
Cup turned out to be a colossal flop show.
Batting first, the home team hammered
334-4. Even on a batting friendly pitch,
this was a huge score to surmount, but
nobody expected India’s response to be so
pusillanimous. In 60 overs, India managed
to score only 132 in a run crawl that defied
the fundamental idea of playing limited
overs cricket. Ironically, the main culprit
was batting mainstay Sunil Gavaskar, who
remained not out on 36 batting through the
entire 60 overs!
Subsequently, Gavaskar was to say that Hosts India and Pakistan were tipped to
it was one of those days where he tried his meet in the final of this World Cup. Both,
best, but just couldn’t get the scoreboard however, tripped in their respective semi-
moving. His acute passivity earned India finals. Pakistan lost to a young Australian
the tag of `Dull Dogs Of Cricket’. This team at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and
perception was to be corrected only eight the following day India were humbled by
years later when India won the World Cup England at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.
in 1983 under Kapil Dev. The defeat was inflicted not so much
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #42 | DECEMBER 2022 7
