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.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Anil Kumble Ten Wickets Haul
Anil Kumble achieved the historic feat of grabbing all ten wickets in an innings against archrivals Pakistan at Delhi's Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium. India went into the match already 1-0 down in the two match series, eager to avenge the narrow 12-run defeat by Pakistan in Chennai a week previously.
Having won the toss and electing to bat, India found the off-spin of Saqlain Mustaq too hot to handle and were all out for 252 early on day two. With the pitch providing generous assistance to spinners, Kumble and Harbhajan Singh bowled out Pakistan for a measly 172.
Early into day four, India were all out for 339 in their second innings and set Pakistan a target of 420 runs. Post-lunch, Kumble got his first success when he had Shahid Afridi caught behind by Nayan Mongia. The very next ball, Ijaz Ahmed was trapped LBW and Kumble was on a hat-trick.
As the spin wizard went about weaving his web around the hapless Pakistanis, the specter of matching Jim Laker's record started emerging. Pakistan's tail folded out to Kumble's guile and precision and when Washim Akram fell as the last man, Kumble's name made its entry into the record books alongside that of Jim Laker's.
Kumble's analysis of 10 for 74 masks the fact that he took all ten Pakistani wickets in one 21.3 over spell, conceding only 49 runs in the process
Having won the toss and electing to bat, India found the off-spin of Saqlain Mustaq too hot to handle and were all out for 252 early on day two. With the pitch providing generous assistance to spinners, Kumble and Harbhajan Singh bowled out Pakistan for a measly 172.
Early into day four, India were all out for 339 in their second innings and set Pakistan a target of 420 runs. Post-lunch, Kumble got his first success when he had Shahid Afridi caught behind by Nayan Mongia. The very next ball, Ijaz Ahmed was trapped LBW and Kumble was on a hat-trick.
As the spin wizard went about weaving his web around the hapless Pakistanis, the specter of matching Jim Laker's record started emerging. Pakistan's tail folded out to Kumble's guile and precision and when Washim Akram fell as the last man, Kumble's name made its entry into the record books alongside that of Jim Laker's.
Kumble's analysis of 10 for 74 masks the fact that he took all ten Pakistani wickets in one 21.3 over spell, conceding only 49 runs in the process
India's First Test Victory
India achieved its first ever Test victory in 1951-52 when it beat England in Madras. Having made its Test debut in 1932, India had to wait for 20 long years in the sidelines before making its mark in the big stage. In that eventful year, India also recorded its maiden series triumph against Pakistan.
In this historic match legendary batsman Vijay Hazare led the Indian contingent while his English counterpart was Donald Carr. With England sitting pretty on a 1-0 lead, the Indian team was looking to restore parity in this final Test of the five match series.
The England team won the toss and elected to bat. Thanks to an inspired bowling performance by Vinoo Mankad, the English team was bowled out for 266 with Mankad grabbing eight wickets. India replied with a mammoth total of 457, riding piggyback on fine centuries by Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar.
On a pitch that was breaking up and spinning, India bowled out England for a paltry 183 in the second innings, to win the Test by an innings and eight runs. Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed shared the spoils with four wickets apiece.
Even though England was missing the services of some key players, nothing can take the sheen off India's emphatic first ever Test victory.
In this historic match legendary batsman Vijay Hazare led the Indian contingent while his English counterpart was Donald Carr. With England sitting pretty on a 1-0 lead, the Indian team was looking to restore parity in this final Test of the five match series.
The England team won the toss and elected to bat. Thanks to an inspired bowling performance by Vinoo Mankad, the English team was bowled out for 266 with Mankad grabbing eight wickets. India replied with a mammoth total of 457, riding piggyback on fine centuries by Pankaj Roy and Polly Umrigar.
On a pitch that was breaking up and spinning, India bowled out England for a paltry 183 in the second innings, to win the Test by an innings and eight runs. Mankad and Ghulam Ahmed shared the spoils with four wickets apiece.
Even though England was missing the services of some key players, nothing can take the sheen off India's emphatic first ever Test victory.
Indian Cricket Achievements
After being granted Test status in 1932, India continued to play the role of whipping boys of cricket for another 20 years. Then in 1952, India humbled the mighty English in Madras and have never looked back since. The country's cricketing annals teem with some remarkable cricketing achievements.
The Test victory in 1952 and the maiden series triumph against Pakistan in the same year were expected to give a shot in the arm to Indian cricket. But nothing such happened and the Indian team went on a downward slide.
But the 1970s witnessed the emergence of a strong Indian side that boasted of players such as Sunil Gavaskar and the dreaded spin quartet. This group of players was responsible for the back-to-back series wins in 1971 in the West Indies and in England, under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar.
During the 1980s, players such as Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and Krish Srikanth came into reckoning and India thrashed the formidable West Indians to win the World Cup in 1983.
The Test victory in 1952 and the maiden series triumph against Pakistan in the same year were expected to give a shot in the arm to Indian cricket. But nothing such happened and the Indian team went on a downward slide.
But the 1970s witnessed the emergence of a strong Indian side that boasted of players such as Sunil Gavaskar and the dreaded spin quartet. This group of players was responsible for the back-to-back series wins in 1971 in the West Indies and in England, under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar.
During the 1980s, players such as Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and Krish Srikanth came into reckoning and India thrashed the formidable West Indians to win the World Cup in 1983.
History of Cricket in India
The history of cricket in India can be traced to the Eighteenth century with references of a friendly match between two teams of visiting sailors at a seaport in Kutch in 1725. This English game soon caught the fancy of the natives with the Pasis coming up with the first non-British cricket club of the country, the Orient Cricket Club in Mumbai in 1848.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, one of the chief patrons of cricket in India, led the first unofficial tour of an "All India" team to England in 1911. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took root largely due to the efforts of the Maharaja along with A. S. De Mello, Lord Harris and R. E. Grant Govan.
The strenuous efforts of these visionaries bore fruit when India was admitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1929 and subsequently granted test status in 1932. The day June 25, 1932, would be a red-letter day in the history of Indian cricket as on this fateful day India made its Test debut at Lord's, the Mecca of cricket.
During the early days, with cricket yet to find a firm footing in the country, three Indians - Ranjitsinghji, his nephew Duleepsinghji and the Nawab of Pataudi (Senior) had made a mark for themselves by playing for English teams. Ranjitsinghji even shouldered the responsibility of leading the Sussex team from 1899 to 1903.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, one of the chief patrons of cricket in India, led the first unofficial tour of an "All India" team to England in 1911. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took root largely due to the efforts of the Maharaja along with A. S. De Mello, Lord Harris and R. E. Grant Govan.
The strenuous efforts of these visionaries bore fruit when India was admitted to the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1929 and subsequently granted test status in 1932. The day June 25, 1932, would be a red-letter day in the history of Indian cricket as on this fateful day India made its Test debut at Lord's, the Mecca of cricket.
During the early days, with cricket yet to find a firm footing in the country, three Indians - Ranjitsinghji, his nephew Duleepsinghji and the Nawab of Pataudi (Senior) had made a mark for themselves by playing for English teams. Ranjitsinghji even shouldered the responsibility of leading the Sussex team from 1899 to 1903.
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