With eighteen wickets in the 1983 World Cup, Karnataka all-rounder Roger Binny spearheaded the Indian bowling attack ahead of even Kapil Dev.

Binny, a former javelin thrower, proved to be one of the architects of the great Indian victory with his seam bowling that was just perfect for the late English summer.

Twenty years later, Binny recounts the win, the hard work and the sidelights of that unforgettable triumph.

What was it like winning the World Cup without a coach?

The senior player was always the motivator. The captain was always the senior cricketer. The coach at that time was not important. The manager was there, though he wasn't a cricketer. The role of manager was basically to get the team together, which is more than 50 per cent of team strategy. He had a good rapport and was an experienced man. He had taken a lot [of teams] out of India and knew what exactly was required. His job was not the cricketing part; his job was to get the moment together.

Today, they are talking of having a coach as well as a bowling coach. So, how did you all manage in 1983?

We just did our job; we knew what we had to do. It was always teamwork; everything gelled at that time. Think the players now need someone to guide them, someone who gels with the players.

What do you think the 1983 win did for Indian cricket and for you personally?

It definitely gave us a lot of enjoyment. We still have people talking about the World Cup. After that, when the Australian team came, everybody started to turn towards all-rounders. Earlier, it was a specialist game. You had five fast bowlers like the West Indies and the other teams had five batsmen. No one really concentrated on all-rounders.

In fact, the whole cricket structure changed after the World Cup; they released that all-rounders are the men required in one-day cricket.

I think Indian cricket took up after that win. Everybody had the confidence in chasing. The association opened up and realised that the team's performance can be improved. So, the whole game took off for Indian cricket.

In that tournament, were you clear in your mind that you were going to play as an all-rounder or as a specialist bowler?

My job was of an all-rounder. From Day 1 I was always picked as an all-rounder and whenever I went to the nets I didn't just bowl; I bowled, batted, and fielded. So, I always worked on my all-round gear.

What did you do differently at the World Cup?

I think the World Cup atmosphere is totally different. We started off well and I think winning such a game is very important; the whole atmosphere changes.

Was it also the fact that there weren't too many expectations?

Yeah, there was no pressure on us at that time. Probably the team now goes with tremendous pressure, which is really sad. But then I feel it is the job of the players and the captain to get that out of your mind. You can't play with so much tension that millions of people's expectations are so high. That is just the fun part of the game, but you have got to perform.

Were you overawed when you were playing your first final? What was going through your mind? You probably already knew you were amongst the top wicket-takers in that tournament.

To tell you the truth I didn't know I was the top wicket-taker. In the dressing room Kapil came and told me that you have got the highest number of wickets in the Cup. I never knew that. I never calculated the wickets. I never did it in my career. I know once, in England in 1986, I was the highest wicket-taker; Srikkanth came and told me. That created a little bit of flutter in the team also.

Who did you discuss your bowling with during the tournament?

We had one thing on cricket tours in England and Australia. We had so much to figure out, after the match we sat and we spoke cricket and somewhere down the line people will always come and help out. They talk about your bowling; you will have someone to tell you could have bowled this way, you could have done this, you could have done that. So, that only helped a lot. When I was a kid, Imran [Khan] and Zaheer Abbas were all our heroes, they were all superstars. I didn't dream that I would bowl to and play with these guys. When you speak to Imran and Kapil they know it, they have been through so many overs; they know what it is over there, so it really helps. That is where I feel modern-day cricketers don't really mix. It is only if you have a problem you go to a cricketer, but you don't really mix with the setup. Probably, they are too busy. They need to run and give of their best out there.

If you were to pick one outstanding performance of yours during the World Cup, which one would it be?

I think the game against Australia, the Chelmsford game. We had to win. The situation was that if we wouldn't have won the game, we wouldn't come in the semis. Whoever won that match were qualified and we scored about 250-odd. The Australian batting was very good and tough, they were doing well. That was my best bowling performance in the World Cup.

At that time you were easily the star of the team in bowling, though Kapil was there. How important is it for players of the team to respect the captain, because even Kapil was very young at that time?

My situation in the team is different. Kapil and myself came out from the same system, Test school cricket. I feel that as a player you have to respect each other; you have to applaud his performances. There are times in the team when some do well, some don't do too well. I think it is just to the players you know to list who are not doing well, that is very important in the team. That is how a team succeeds. If you are going to have a selfish attitude and just concentrate on yourself, there will be no way that you are going to succeed. The team wants you to succeed. I think lot of people have bad tours, lot of people don't play, I think lot of things happen, that is teamwork. Besides winning, there is a lot of fun in the dressing room; there is a lot of fun in the coaching side. Sometimes it can be a bit boring and a bit tiring, but something would come out; some joke that changes the whole atmosphere and the team spirit.

Who was the funny character in the team? What kept you guys so relaxed every time you went on the field?

There is always a lot of good humour going around in the team. We had a person like Srikkanth, and then there was Madan [Lal] to get the team going with his commentary that was really good.

You remember any incidents during that time...

It was a lot of fun pulling each one's leg. I think winning makes a lot of difference because then the team starts to enjoy a little more.

There is always talk of people from different regions bonding together. Did that happen in your team? Did they go out in groups?

First of all, in England we had a lot of friends. So, basically, you go in batches, you take a bus and go; that is always there. Certain people like to go to certain restaurants, some people like Chinese food to Indian, so definitely groups are formed. Also, in our country we have different cultures. So, it's bound to be there in the team.

So, that is never an issue?

You travel for six-seven weeks in a year on tour, so there is a little bit of fighting and argument, it's a family being together. If we don't have these things, it is not really a team.

Did any arguments happen during the World Cup?

Yeah, there were a few arguments with the players. There have to be some arguments. There are 14 members from different parts of the country, it is part of the game.

What was the argument like.

There are so many things, certain issues, some cricket issues or some other issues like something happening at home. Something going on in Tamil Nadu, we will pull Srikkanth's leg, something or some issue/topic.

The 1983 team was a model team without too much of back-up staff. Teams today are struggling for discipline despite having back-up staff, with selectors on tour. What did you guys do? What was it about the Indian team?

I think that once we started to win, everybody got together. Basically, everyone contributed. Even in the team meetings there was a contribution from all the guys, everybody would come out with something and speak. There was a lot of togetherness in the team; everybody was applauded for their performances.

Did the 1983 team have a huddle?

It was different at that time. It was high-fives, or even a hug. When Kapil caught Clive Lloyd in the final game, he came and hugged me. It was such a big thing because at that time it used to be different. But I think the bottom line is to keep winning and feel the difference; that is what makes the difference.

At that time who came up with the game plan, who devised the strategies? Did the bowlers and batsmen work it out themselves?

When we went to a game previously we were with the manager; he would start the ball rolling. He would talk about the game next day and then put it on to the captain. Captain would say his views and give a chance to senior players and everybody who was in the team. In the team meeting there is no written plan and everything is told in the meeting to the team. Basically, in those days if you were playing for your country you were supposed to be there and take interest.

Do you think it is ironic that the 1983 team won the World Cup and yet didn't get as many incentives as the 2003 side did despite losing the final?

If you look 20 years down the line the Indian team will have more Tests and gifts. Over the years if you look at the great cricketers who played in the 1950s and 1960s, it was just cricket to them. The game has become so popular that it is a natural step. Things are going to change.