Kapil Dev, a name in the veins of every youngster turned 64 on Friday. The living Indian cricket legend was the person who made the dream of winning a world cup possible for the nation. He was the one who brought cricket to the mainstream and most popular sport after the 1983 world cup win.
From the only person with 4000 Test runs and 400 wickets to holding the record for scoring highest individual score in ODI WC the Haryana Hurricane has given it all to the Indian Cricket.
Something that is most talked about is his 175 not out innings that he played against Zimbabwe. It is said that had this innings not come up at the right time the World Cup would have been shattered.
On June 18, 1983 at Tunbridge history was created in an innings that was watched only by those present at the stadium on that day and never after did one get to see it as the match was not recorded at all because BBC had shortage of staff, which was covering another match Pakistan vs England and New Zealand vs Australia and India was nearly out of the tournament
BBC did not telecast this match, India vs Zimbabwe, because they had presumption that India had no chance against Zimbabwe but India created history that day with the help of Kapil Dev’s historic 175 runs not out.
Little did they know about missing out on a historic match. In a do or die situation, India was struggling at 17 for 5 after winning the toss, and that’s when the captain rose from the ashes with an unbeatable knock of 175 of just 138 balls to take India at the total score of 266 runs.
The captain created a world record of most runs in a single game surpassing the previous best, of 171 not out by GM Turner. Combined partnership with Syed Kirmani’s this match was the highlight match of the world winning by India against Zimbabwe and making Indians proud.
Today Cricket is one of the most popular games in the country people appreciate and love their Indian Cricket team but this happened all because of these iconic players who created history when there was no scope of getting the world cup in 1983 which was a miracle for the Indian Cricket team the inning played by Kapil dev played against Zimbabwe is a lesson for generations to come he brought victory to his team single-handedly.