harikumar1964's blog

It is 25 years today- That triumphant evening (Night for us indians) at Lords’. Kapil’s Devils- the underdogs and some rightly said the dark horses- made history. I still remember it was almost midnight when Mohinder trapped Holding LBW and we were listening the BBC commentary (it was an era of Radio)- and since beating windies was not there even in the wildest of dreams, hardly anybody had crackers in stock to burst that night. I know many went to sleep on hearing Richards’ onslaught of Madan Lal.  I kept the radio on because I was a great fan of Viv (still is). Because of the stature of Windies superheroes, much of India loved them and they would not have bothered either had we lost that final. But then victory is sweet. We were in the first year of engg college. Next day seniors took out a procession, holding a trophy, shouting - prudential ningalude kuthakayano- parayu parayu Lloydee- ( malayalees would understand the meaning - but for others it means - is prudential (the name of the cup) your family property?- tell us tell us Lloyd).

Probably the best moment on the cricket field for India. We broke the jinx that only windies can win Oneday world cup. It was a team of bits and pieces men- somebody who can bat a bit, bowl a bit and field a bit- be it Roger Binny, Madan Lal, Kirti Azad, Mohinder or Kapil himself. And probably that played the trick.

25 years have passed and we could not repeat that success. That makes it even more valuable- and worthwhile remembering.

I salute Kapil and his men of 1983 for the glory they brought to us - to a nation of a billion cricket lovers. hats off

So after 23 years, a Onedayful victory down under, that too by a team of rookies. One bright sunny day won’t make a summer- but taking the Australian tour in totality, it was a splendid summer- except for a brief cloudy stretch at Sydney. Everybody questioned the rationale behind sending novices in place of experienced greats for the one day series  and forecast miserable defeat for the team. But then the young bloods kept their nerve – which the elders more than often failed to do- and tamed the ageing lions in their own jungle. New heroes emerged- and most importantly, for the first time, we have a bench strength of fast bowlers comparable to the bench strength of West Indies in the 70s and 80s. Batting needs a li’l bit of strengthening-but that has ample scope especially with the World champions U-19s waiting in the wings.

Amidst all these euphoria, one question – Is it the end of the road for the legendary trio of Saurav, Rahul and Laxman- atleast as far as one days are concerned? I think so. Well, all good things have to end.

Chak de India