New Delhi: Indians were "lucky" to win the 1983 World Cup, according to legendary West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts. India, the underdog, defeated the powerful West Indies in the world championship final at Lord's under the direction of Kapil Dev, making history with their first victory. The hosts, England, and Australia, were their able rivals. West Indies, the unbeaten victors of the previous two World Cups, entered the competition as the clear favorite. Few predicted that India would even make it to the tournament's finals, much less win it. But the Kapil Dev side disproved the skeptics, at least partially.
India was placed in the same group as the two-time world champions West Indies and Australia, along with Zimbabwe. The top two teams in each group would proceed to the semifinals after playing each other twice. Despite having a dismal record in the previous two World Cups, India got off to a strong start by beating West Indies in their opening group game. Since the tournament's start in 1975, this was the first time West Indies has lost a World Cup game.
India defeated Australia and Zimbabwe (twice) to secure a position in the semi-finals, when they defeated the hosts England to advance in finals. They lost to West Indies in the second leg.
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Few people gave India a chance to replicate their victory over the West Indies in the finals, despite the fact that they did it in their tournament debut. However, they pulled a rabbit out of the hat, just like on the group stage. When facing a batting lineup that included Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd, and Viv Richards, India shocked everyone by successfully holding a lead of 183 runs.
India and West Indies faced off in three World Cup matches in 1983, with India coming out on top twice, including the championship game. However, Roberts, who was one of the captains of the formidable West Indies pace battery at the time, believes that West Indies was unquestionably the superior team in the competition.
"Yeah, we lost to India. It was one of those things. As we all know, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. You win some, and you lose some. We are always prepared to lose. We play to win—not at all costs, but fair and squarely. We were not outplayed by a better team. But as we all know, cricket is a game where you have to be on top for the duration of the match. We outplayed India up to the end of India’s innings. And you see, people don’t look at cricket as a game of luck and chance. Up until 1983, we hadn’t lost a World Cup game. In 1983, we were beaten twice. There were only two defeats between 1975 and 1983 in the World Cup, and India beat us both times," Roberts said.
Roberts, who played for West Indies in 56 ODIs and 47 Tests, taking 202 and 87 wickets each, did not forget to mention that the visiting Caribbean team defeated India 5-0 in ODIs and 3-0 in Tests the same year they won the world championship.
"We were in form but due for a bad game. It was just India’s luck in 1983. Because of that great team that we had, we lost two games in 1983, and both to India. And then, five or six months later, we beat India 6-0. So, it was just that game. Luck went India’s way after they were dismissed for 180-odd.
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"We weren’t outplayed. We just lost the game. It was not overconfidence or complacency," he added.
When asked to identify the crucial moment in the 1983 World Cup final, Roberts responded that Viv Richards' dismissal was key. Thanks to a superb backwards-running catch by Kapil Dev, the illustrious cricketer was out caught off Madan Lal's delivery.
"I think it was when Viv (Richards) got out. We could never recover," said Roberts. "The only difference in the finals is that in 1975 and 1979, we were inserted. In ‘83, we batted second. That was the difference."
Roberts claimed that none of the Indian cricketers impressed him in the final, despite a magnificent bowling performance from Madan Lal (3/31) and an all-around performance from Player of the Match Mohinder Amarnath (26; 3/12).
"Among the batsmen, I was not impressed by anyone in particular. No one got a fifty. Among the bowlers, no one got a 5-fer or even a 4-fer. So, I was not particularly impressed. Batsmen impress when you play a top-quality innings. And no one from India did that," he said.