By Rahul Dixit
There were great triumphs scored by India since the day they took to the game of cricket. They surprised the mighty in their own den to give Indian cricket rare moments of glory. Some individuals rose above the perceived notions to shatter records. Yet, all of them collectively stand a notch below the greatest moment for Indian cricket that came on June 25, 1983. It was the day when cricket in India was reborn as the curly-haired Kapil Dev lifted the Prudential World Cup. The World Cup triumph at Lord’s inarguably remains the biggest moment and 1983 remains the watershed year for Indian cricket till date. The success and glory that has followed for the last four decades find their roots in that moment; the moment that changed the face of cricket in India.
The importance of June 25, 1983 can be gauged in the fact that cricket in this country is discussed as pre-83 and post-83 eras. The biggest upset in world cricket was the catalyst of the biggest change in the game’s fortunes, first in India and then in the rest of the world. Relegated as unknowns on the turf dominated by England, Australia, and the West Indies, the Indian cricketers transformed themselves into folklore heroes and delivered a superhero stuff which is still paying huge dividends for the game.
India’s 43-run victory over World Champions Windies in the final sits right beside the astonishing achievements the country has managed in various fields. It cannot be judged only as an amazing sporting glory carved by a bunch of resolute cricketers who seized their moment under the sun. The triumph is much more than that. It helped in gradual disintegration of the fear of the powerful for the entire society. It not only changed the fortunes of the cricketers as they turned into stars in one night but it also instilled a huge belief in the nation that dreams do come true if pursued diligently. The rise and rise of Indian cricket, both on and off the field, over the last forty years finds its genesis in the 1983 World Cup victory. The moment deserves celebration.
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