Twenty years ago, when England staged the third World Cup in June 1983, it was Kapil Dev Nikhanj who led India to the world crown, and, in the process, shattered the mighty West Indies' dream of lifting the Cup for the third time on the trot. That triumph was possible only because the 'Haryana Hurricane,' as he was known, played one of the greatest innings in the history of one-day international cricket -- against a lowly-placed, but highly determined, Zimbabwe, at Turnbridge Wells, in the early stages of the tournament on June 18.
Kapil Dev won the toss and opted to bat. India were off to a very poor start as, first, opener Sunil Gavaskar was out to the last ball of the first over, leg-before to Peter Rawson, without scoring. Two overs later, Mohinder Amarnath was neatly caught by wicket-keeper Dave Houghton for 5, and India were 6 for 2.
In the sixth over, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the other opener, was out for zero, when he stepped down the wicket and drove Kevin Curran with the full swing of the bat. Iain Butchart, fielding at mid-off, ran about 20 yards to extra cover and took a brilliant catch. India were reduced to 6 for 3.
Barely three more runs were added to India's total, when Sandeep Patil, after scoring just one run, was caught by Houghton on the leg-side, off Curran. Subsequently, when in-form batsman Yashpal Sharma was also caught behind by Houghton off Rawson for 9, India's score card read a pathetic 17 for 5 off 13 overs.
After these five telling blows from the minnows of international cricket, there was a distinct possibility of the Indian innings folding up for less than 50. But Kapil came up with a captain's knock. In one of the most devastating counter attacks witnessed in the one-day game, he combined caution with aggression and gradually repaired the innings. He added 60 priceless runs with Roger Binny for the sixth wicket before the Karnataka all-rounder was out leg before to John Traicos for 22.
In walked another all-rounder, Ravi Shastri, but he could score only one run before being caught by Andy Pycroft, off Duncan Fletcher. India were now 78 for 7. The gutsy Madan Lal, Kapil's north zone teammate, came in next and played a small but very useful innings. Together, the duo raised 62 invaluable runs for the eighth wicket before Madan Lal was caught behind off Curran for 17.
At 140 for 8, India's innings was nearing an early end. But wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani (24 not out) batted with determination and added 126 invaluable runs with Kapil for a record unfinished ninth-wicket partnership. This stand was the brightest phase of the Indian innings, the swashbuckling Kapil scoring 75 runs in the first hundred of the partnership.
At the end of the stipulated 60 overs, India had reached a match-winning score of 266 for 8, in which Kapil's contribution was a massive 175 not out, made in just 181 minutes, with six power-packed sixes and 16 sweetly-timed fours.
It is interesting to note that Kapil's 175 not out was the first-ever century scored by an Indian batsman, in India's 45th ODI since the country played its first match against England at Leeds on July 13, 1974. But, sadly, there is no video recording available of his stupendous innings, as the BBC television staff was on strike on that memorable day in Indian cricket.
When the two not out Indian batsmen came off the field, everybody at the ground gave them a standing ovation all the way back to the pavilion.
In reply, openers Robin Brown (35) and Grant Patterson (23) gave Zimbabwe a reasonably good start by putting on 44 runs for the first wicket. But, subsequently, except Curran, the fast bowler, who, with 73 runs emerged the top scorer for Zimbabwe, no other batsman was able make any substantial contribution.
The Indian medium pace attack of Kapil Dev (1 for 32), Balwinder Sandhu (1 for 44), Roger Binny (2 for 45), Madan Lal ( 3 for 42) and Mohinder Amarnath (1 for 37) did a remarkable job of bowling Zimbabwe out for 235 runs in 57 overs.
India won the match by a convincing 31 runs.
