TUNBRIDGE WELLS (England): Just 38 decades past, legendary Kapil Dev slammed an unbeaten 175 from Zimbabwe at the 1983 World Cup to maintain India from the search for a spot from the semi-finals, following the top order batsmen had neglected.
Kapil struck on a subsequently world-record 175 off only 138 deliveries, adorned with 16 bounds and six sixes to guide India to 266/8 wickets in the allotted 60 overs, then his team has been decreased to 9/4.
India had dropped Sunil Gavaskar, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Mohinder Amarnath, along with Sandeep Patil.
Kapil was included in three Important ventures — of 60 runs for the sixth wicket with Roger Binny (22), of 62 for eighth using Madan Lal (17), also of an abysmal 126 runs to its ninth with Syed Kirmani (24 not out) — to require India to security ‘ #OnThisDay at 1983: Leading from the front, @therealkapildev went at Tunbridge Wells & slammed 175off 138 balls from Zimbabwe at the 1983 World Cup!’ Tweeted the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday.
Kapil subsequently chipped into his bowling, conceding just 32 runs in his 11 overs and taking one wicket as India ignored Zimbabwe for 235 at 57 overs and won by 31 runs.
This innings retained India living in the championship and eventually helped them conquer the Clive Lloyd-led West Indies side by 43 runs at the final at Lord’s to raise the World Cup for the very first time, even following abysmal performances from first two variations in 1975 and 1979.