India’s 1983 World Cup win: The beginning of an era by Kapil Dev & Co.

India stunned West Indies to win its maiden World Cup title.  |  Photo Credit: BCCL

For the ones who started following cricket in the 90s, Sachin Tendulkar emerged as the new hero as the Mumbai batsman remained the vital cog in the Indian cricket team and his dismissal would mean the end of a cricket match for most of the cricket fans. Many of the cricketers, who made their debuts after 2000, have named Tendulkar as the inspiration behind them picking the bat. However, it was the legendary Kapil Dev - who was responsible for the start of a new era as it was under his leadership that India became the world champions for the first time, 37 years ago, against the West Indies.

Unlike today, when India has become a powerhouse in world cricket, entering every major tournament as one of the favourites, Kapil and his men entered the 1983 World Cup final as the underdogs with the mighty West Indies looking all set to register a hat-trick of World Cup titles.

The West Indies squad boasted of some of the finest names in world cricket and while they had plenty of depth in the batting line-up, their fearsome pace attack could take the mickey out of any batting line-up. Vivian Richards was one of the most lethal batsman in the Windies side which was led by Clive Lloyd. Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes also had the reputation of being world-class openers. Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and Michael Holding formed what could arguably be the most fearsome pace attack cricket has ever seen in one team.

But with nothing to lose, Kapil led from the front in what was the start of a new era for Indian cricket. Batting first, India posted just 183 runs on board. While it was a decent total given the Windies pace attack, it wasn't respectable given the Windies batting line-up. After Sunil Gavaskar (2) was dismissed early, Krishnamachari Srikkanth (38 off 57) and Mohinder Amarnath (26 off 80) added a valuable 57-run stand for the second wicket followed by some other crucial knocks from Sandeep Patil (27 off 29) and Kapil (15 off 8). Not to forget the contribution of India's tail-enders, as Madan Lal (17 off 27), Syed Kirmani (14 off 43) and Balwinder Sandhu (11* off 30) didn't throw their wickets away.

In reply, Sandhu provided India an early breakthrough as he removed opener Gordon Greenidge (1) with just 5 runs on board. As expected, Richards was looking in total control of the proceedings before Kapil ran backwards from short midwicket to grab a sensational catch under pressure.

Kapil's effort proved to be the turning point of the match as the Windies middle-order fell like nine pins with Lloyd (8), Larry Gomes (5) and Faoud Bacchus (8) succumbing to the pressure. Jeff Dujon (25 off 73) and Malcolm Marshall (18 off 51) did put up a fight with a 43-run stand for the seventh wicket but once Dujon was clean bowled by Amarnath, it was a matter of time that India lifted the trophy. Amarnath also bagged a three-wicket haul and was adjudged Man of the Match.

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Laxman, who was a nine-year-old when he saw Kapil's men lift the trophy, recalled how the win played a huge role in him becoming a cricketer. "37 years today since the historic day at Lords when Kapil Paaji lifted the 1983 World Cup. As a 9 year old, it inspired me to dream big and enhanced my love for the game. Incredible day which inspired a whole generation. Thank you Team 83," Laxman tweeted.

India had to wait 28 years for another World Cup title as MS Dhoni became the second Indian captain to win the showpiece event as captain in 2011 - when the Men in Blue defeated Sri Lanka to become the first host country to win the quadrennial event. Dhoni, who also won the World Twenty 20 in 2007 and Champions Trophy in 2013 is the only captain to have won all three ICC titles.