Xtra Time Web Desk: June 25 this year marks the 40 years of India’s 1983 World Cup win. Kapil’s Devils created history by winning the maiden Prudential World Cup defeating the mighty West Indies at Lords. The win marked a dramatic change in the landscape of Indian cricket. Here are 10 interesting facts about the Indian team that won the 1983 World Cup.
1. When the Indian team was leaving for England to play the World Cup, they were without a coach, doctor and even a physiotherapist
2. Air India, India’s premier airline, had billed the Indian cricket board separately to carry the cricketers’ luggage
3. Only one BCCI official named PR Maan Singh was associated with the Indian team as the manager during the World Cup
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4. In the absence of a designated coach, it was Mohinder Amarnath who shouldered the responsibilities. Along with Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, he decided the batting and bowling order of the team.
5. Then captain Kapil Dev scored a brilliant 175 against Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, the match wasn’t recorded by the BBC and there is no footage available of that glorious knock.
6. Talking about the betting going into the World Cup finale, India’s odds were placed at 66:1. Tells you a lot about the dominant position India were in during the tournament.
7. Mohinder Amarnath, who was adjudged Man of the match, was awarded 600 pounds as cash prize
8. BCCI announced a prize of Rs.2 lakh for the entire team after the World Cup win. However, Sunil Gavaskar refused to accept the money.
9. A concert involving legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was held in Mumbai to raise funds. The money received from this concert was then distributed among the 14 Indian players, with each player getting Rs.1 lakh.
10. Before the World Cup began, popular cricket historian David Edward Frith had said that a team like India should not be playing this prestigious tournament. But when India stunned the cricketing fraternity with their historic win, Frith had to swallow his own words.