From 1983 to 2011..

Yes. You got it right... This is about Cricket, world's most popular one of the most prefered and interesting game...After watching this World cup (2011) I got so excited that I decided to pen down my feelings on Cricket World cup comparing '83 and '11!!

1983..

A period when Indians were considered underdogs..Wait a minute!. Did I say underdogs? Even worse, no-one would have even in their wild dreams had dreamt of an Asian country winning a prestigious and coveted title. I vividly(yes, it is so green in my memory) remember 1983 Prudential World cup. Growing up along(and surrounded) with cricket lovers - parents, brothers(their friends as well).. There were a set of die-hard Kapil Dev fans, a set who loved Gavaskar, and a set who cheered our own Chikka aka Srikkanth's fans. I grew up listening to and watching their talk on the game. I, as a young girl, might not have tried to play/follow the game immediately, but nevertheless, the interest deeply stayed in me and is... (till now).. Recalling the victorious moments of 1983, I am sure my brothers would have enjoyed it much more than I.

We did not have television, there were no plethora of radio stations (unlike today) - only BBC and of course our AIR in Medium Wave, no Internet or FACEBOOK!. The radio station - BBC where in we could listen to commentary with aerial disturbances now and then.

We were in Coimbatore during that time and I remember my brothers, his friends going to UMS(somewhere in Avinashi Road) to watch the match in the evening (GMT + 530 as the match was being played at Lords). And the victory news created the same euphoria that the present generation and we are in now. Coming to what was different then than this time, there were many things...

1. India surely had had a learning experience in the first two world cups(either by playing or watching). From being a no hope team to emerging as a winner. Surely, 1983 was not a fluke or luck...

2. The penchant to success was there in everyone..

3. Because, they had not won a big title till then... May be a win against England.

4. The team was more than Indian. Not only Mumbaikars.. Had representatives from all states.

Would I stand right, if I say, it was a superlative effort by less (crowd) supported but with grit and determination?5. Kapil and his team went to the field without any expectations. More so, after losing the test match to Pakistan and a change in captaincy - Gavaskar to Kapil. Kapil held his chin up.

.. so on...

The match had lot of sensational moments. People who had watched it or even listened to commentary would definitely rate the victory as the BEST. I say this not because, it was the first big title but it was also an unexpected victory. And more so, beating an invincible West Indies team (I think they must have planned for a hat-trick). It brought in a paradigm shift in the way the one days are played. The test matches slowly started losing its prominence. I would rate test matches are the best.

Out of 1983 WC, specials that we would always love to watch - the amazing/astonishing/ impeccable (whatever you may call it) Kapil da's catch (one of the best catches till date). from going down to 17 for 5 to a winning 266 for 8 (175 n.o. - oh yeah, one of the best innings vs Zimbabwe, Amarnath's wobble, and the Sardar of Swing - Sandhu's banana ball, the deadly combo of Gavaskar, Srikkanth - where one is a stayer and other is a dasher. I bet, it was only after watching Chikka play dashing strokes in the initial overs, Jayasuriya followed it.

Kapil Dev Nikhanj drove the team in teh same fashion as Mahendra Singh Dhoni did!!

2011..

From 1983 to 2011.. 28 years, Cricket as a game has changed a lot.. Coaches, Media, Money, Records, Rules per se, so many factors settled in. Viewership had increased multifold. Cricketing expectations are set clearly!! Media attention. Fear of Critics!. And lastly, the fear of bookies.. This time, they had planned their victory.. And this victory did not come overnight. Preparation did not start one or 6 months back.. But soon after 2007 World cup exit!...

The current Indian team has full of young players who were not even born during 1983 World cup. May be, Tendulkar is an exception. He might have grown up watching it. Perhaps he would have been the only person who would have understood the significance of a World cup victory.

Should I say only he would have felt the zeitgeist?

I sincerly salute the team for their meticulous preparation and this time I saw a sea change in the final match. The Indians did their homework very well.. Excellent fielding, tight line and length bowling, giving room for opponent to bowl bad balls, staying in the ground for partnership so on. The team was well packed, calculated risks by Dhoni (using Sreesanth, Nehra) under the able guidance of Gary ( will write about him in my next).

Dhoni and his Men in Blue certainly did India a lot of proud. It was an elating and a happier moment for 1 billion Indians and all Indians across the world.

Certainly the World cup victory celebrations is not over .. Be it the way!. It will continue for many days, weeks and months or may be till we clinch 2015 title as well! Just before I sign off, Congratulations Team India!!!Chak De India!! . 1983 is a memorable one..

On a lighter vein: What is the similarity between KapilDev Ramlal Nikhanj and Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Both drink lot of Milk ;). I read somewhere that when Kapil's coach advised he should drink a lot of milk - it seems his father bought a Buffallo to solve the problem.. :) :)

Readers, welcome to share your experiences on 1983 and 2011 WC.