Kapil Dev with 1983 Cricket World Cup

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• This time around the Indian cricket team is one of the favorites to lift the World Cup trophy. However, it was not so in 1983 edition of the tournament. The Indian team went into the competition as underdogs. No one gave them a chance of even reaching the semifinals -let alone winning the competition. But folklore are also created by the underdogs. And that’s exactly what happened in 1983 Cricket World Cup.
• Today’s photographs has been etched for eternity in the memory of all the Indian cricket fans. Kapil Dev Nikhanj, the Indian captain, in the balcony at the Lord’s cricket ground, lifting the Prudential Cup after beating West Indies in the finals is truly an iconic photograph in the history of cricket. The 1983 World Cup was full of dramatic cricket right from the start. Teams like India and Zimbabwe who were not playing well in those times scored upset victories over the West Indies and Australia respectively. England, Pakistan, India and tournament favorites West Indies qualified for the semifinals.
• India were having a dream run during the competition. They played semifinal against England and won the match by 6 wickets. West Indies beat Pakistan in semis to fix the final clash with India. Well, it was quite like David and Goliath story. Everyone thought that the West Indians will cruelly bludgeon the Indian team to defeat. But it was not to be.
• In the final, India lost the toss and were asked to bat first against a West Indies team that arguably boasted the world’s best bowling attack. Roberts, Marshall, Joel Garner and Michael Holding ripped through the Indian batsmen and bundled up the entire team for only 183 runs off 54.4 overs. For most viewers the final result was too easy to predict; but the Indian bowlers exploited the weather and pitch conditions perfectly to bowl out the best batting lineup of the era for 140 from 52 overs. The previously invincible West Indies had been vanquished and the underdogs India had emerged as the World Champion.
• In the semi-final against West Indies, the Pakistani batsmen could hit the boundary only twice!Mohsin Khan and Zahir Abbas hit the boundary once each.
• In their first group match, India beat West Indies by 34 runs. It was West Indies’ first ever defeatin the history of World Cup (1983 edition was the third Cricket World Cup).
• Against Zimbabwe, Kapil Dev made 175 runs off 138 balls, an innings that included 16 boundaries and 6 sixes. During this innings he made a 126 runs 9th partnership with Syed Kirmani. This partnership remained a record for more than 27 years (10,000 days)
• In 1983 World Cup India won six matches and lost two. India lost to Australia & West Indies.
• India's 1983 cricket World Cup victory over the mighty West Indies is widely acknowledged as the defining moment in the history of Indian cricket. Under the spirited leadership of Kapil Dev, a determined Indian team exploited the English conditions to clinch the coveted title
• India made their intentions pretty clear by shocking the favorites West Indies in their campaign opener. In their next match, India thrashed the minnows Zimbabwe with Madan Lal playing a pivotal role. However the euphoria over the successive wins was short lived as India was dealt out a 162 run thrashing from Australia just two days later.
• India's second Group match against Zimbabwe unfolded high drama. Batting first, India was looking down the barrel with five wickets down for just 17 runs on board. But skipper Kapil Dev chose the occasion to lead by example and his whirlwind knock of 175 set the stage for a memorable Indian victory. 
• The final raised the specter of an Indian humiliation in the hands of the Goliaths of world cricket, the West Indies. Even though India had beaten West Indies in the group stage, the wise and knowledgeable of the game predicted a comprehensive win for the Indies. 
• Batting first, India were bundled out for 183 in the face of the hostile West Indian pace attack. However, when it came to their turn, the West Indian batsmen collapsed and ultimately fell short of the target by 43 runs. The Indian spirit was epitomized by an astonishing catch by Kapil Dev who sprinted back 20 yards to latch onto the skier from the marauding blade of the great Viv Richards.
• As the news filtered through to the fans back home, it led to unprecedented scenes of jubilation throughout Delhi and Calcutta and the rest of the country.