1983 Cricket World Cup

The 1983 Cricket World Cup was the third edition of the tournament, played in England from 9 to 25 June 1983. Eight teams took part, and India — given 66-to-1 odds at the start — won the title by beating West Indies in the final at Lord's. It remains the most famous upset in World Cup history and the tournament that made cricket a national obsession in India.

Tournament Format

Detail Info
Host England
Dates 9–25 June 1983
Teams 8
Matches 27
Format Round robin groups + semi-finals + final
Winner India
Runner-up West Indies

The eight teams were split into two groups of four. The top two from each group reached the semi-finals.

Groups

Group A Group B
England West Indies
Pakistan India
New Zealand Australia
Sri Lanka Zimbabwe

Key Matches

The group stage produced several surprises. Zimbabwe beat Australia in their first-ever ODI, and India beat West Indies at The Oval thanks to Yashpal Sharma's 89. But the match everyone remembers from the group stage is India vs Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells, where Kapil Dev's 175 not out rescued India from 17 for 5.

In the semi-finals, India beat England at Manchester and West Indies beat Pakistan at The Oval, setting up a final between the two-time champions and the rank outsiders.

Final: India vs West Indies, Lord's

Team Score
India 183 all out
West Indies 140 all out

India won by 43 runs. Mohinder Amarnath was man of the match for 26 runs and 3 for 12.

Tournament Awards

Award Winner
Most runs David Gower (England) – 384
Most wickets Roger Binny (India) – 18
Man of the final Mohinder Amarnath

Legacy

The 1983 World Cup changed cricket forever. It ended West Indies' dominance of the one-day game, proved that the World Cup was unpredictable, and — most importantly — turned India into cricket's biggest market. Television coverage, sponsorship and fan following exploded after Kapil Dev lifted the trophy.

Who won the 1983 Cricket World Cup?

India won the 1983 World Cup, beating West Indies by 43 runs in the final at Lord's.

Where was the 1983 World Cup held?

The 1983 World Cup was held in England.

Who was the highest wicket-taker in the 1983 World Cup?

Roger Binny of India took 18 wickets, the most in the tournament.

What were India's odds of winning the 1983 World Cup?

India were 66-to-1 outsiders at the start of the tournament.

Rivcky John

A prominent figure in sports journalism for the last two decades. Cricket Analyst & Writing News, Features, Match Previews/Reviews/Reports, And Opinion Pieces on Cricket. You can connect with him on Facebook also.