Indian players have produced numerous thrilling moments on the cricket field over the years.
But few could match that slice of magic which Kapil Dev created at Lord’s nearly 28 years back - a stunner of a catch to dismiss Viv Richards that eventually culminated in India’s triumph in the final.
Having sauntered to a measly 183, India would not have had any hopes of restricting the powerful West Indian batting line-up. Balwinder Sandhu’s in-cutter rearranged Gordon Greendige’s woodwork early in the innings, giving India a glimmer of hope. But Desmond Haynes and Richards shared a 45-run alliance for the second wicket, entirely dominated by the latter, and that seemed to douse India’s spirits.
Just as Kapil was contemplating taking off Madan Lal, who had dismissed Haynes earlier, the Delhi medium-pacer requested his captain to give him one more over. Kapil’s decision to give Maddipa (that's how Madan Lal is referred in cricketing community) that extra over changed the course of the match.
Richards had already smashed seven fours during his frenzied 33 and had show little hesitation in latching on to another short ball offered by Madan. His pull shot seemed to be travel to safety but Kapil ran and ran and ran some 20 yards backwards from mid-wicket to pouch a memorable catch that helped India make further inroads into the West Indian line-up.
"I still don't know from where did he (Kapil) come to take that catch. When Kapil was running back waving to nearest fielder to get out of his way, I knew my time was over," was how Richards recollected about a catch that turned out to be one of the best in the history of World Cup. Richards was undoubtedly the most destructive player during that time.
Indeeded, it was the desire to win that drove Kapil and Co to the title in 1983.
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