The story till then
India went into the 1983 World Cup with an ODI record of played 40, won 12 and lost 28. Their most notable World Cup moment till then was Sunil Gavaskar's 36 off 174 balls in their very first match, in 1975. But they began the 1983 World Cup on the front foot, beating holders West Indies and then pulling off an improbable win over Zimbabwe thanks to Kapil Dev's unbeaten 175. A win over England in the semis and they were at Lord's to take on West Indies, who were aiming for a hat-trick of titles.
The moment
In the final, West Indies won the toss, put India in and restricted them to a fairly underwhelming 183 - a total thanks in large part to Kris Srikkanth's 38. At the halfway stage it seemed game over, given West Indies' batting firepower. They lost their openers with 50 on the board, but had Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd at the crease. Then came the moment that turned the match: a stunning catch by Kapil Dev to dismiss Richards, and West Indies caved in to lose by 43 runs.
The reaction
"The 1983 World Cup changed the entire sport in our country and gave a new dimension to Indian cricket"
- Kapil Dev
Expert view
"A great moment as the whole country could relate to this hugely popular game and feel the collective pride in the achievement."
- Suma Shirur, shooter
The story since
Much of what Indian cricket is today - especially its commercial status - can be directly linked back to that day at Lord's. The immediate follow-up was winning the World Championship of Cricket in 1985, and since then India have been among cricket's top teams. The financial impact was far greater; the next World Cup was held on the subcontinent, as have two more since. India is now firmly established as the game's economic powerhouse.
