Indian Cricket Team 1983 World Cup Final
The 1983 World Cup final was played at Lord's on 25 June 1983 between India and West Indies. West Indies were chasing a third straight title and were overwhelming favourites. India, who had never gone past the group stage before, defended 183 to win by 43 runs in one of the greatest upsets in sporting history.
Match Scorecard Summary
| Innings | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| India | 183 all out | 54.4 |
| West Indies | 140 all out | 52.0 |
India won the toss? No — West Indies won the toss and put India in to bat, expecting to chase down a small total under lights. For once, the plan backfired spectacularly.
India's Innings: 183 All Out
| Batsman | Runs |
|---|---|
| Kris Srikkanth | 38 |
| Mohinder Amarnath | 26 |
| Sandeep Patil | 27 |
| Kapil Dev (c) | 15 |
| Syed Kirmani (wk) | 14 |
Andy Roberts took 3 for 32 and the West Indies pace attack never allowed India to get away. At 183 all out, most observers felt the match was as good as over. The Indian dressing room, though, believed the pitch was helping the bowlers.
West Indies Innings: 140 All Out
| Bowler | Figures |
|---|---|
| Mohinder Amarnath | 3 for 12 |
| Madan Lal | 3 for 31 |
| Balwinder Sandhu | 2 for 32 |
| Kapil Dev | 1 for 21 |
| Roger Binny | 1 for 23 |
The key moments came in a rush. Sandhu's inswinger bowled Greenidge, then Richards — who was threatening to take the game away — skied a pull and Kapil Dev ran back from mid-wicket to take a famous catch. From 50 for 1, West Indies slid to 76 for 6. Amarnath's gentle medium pace took 3 for 12, and the champions were all out for 140.
Scorecard of the Final
India's 183 was built on small contributions rather than one big innings, which made the defence even more remarkable. Every bowler contributed, and the fielding — led by Kapil's catch — was sharp. Mohinder Amarnath was named man of the match, having also been the star of the semi-final against England.
Legacy of the Final
The 1983 final proved that the World Cup could be won by an unfancied team, and it broke the aura of West Indian invincibility in one-day cricket. For India, it was the birth of a cricket-obsessed nation. The scenes at Lord's, with Indian fans invading the pitch, remain among the most iconic images in the sport.
Who won the 1983 Cricket World Cup final?
India won the 1983 World Cup final, beating West Indies by 43 runs at Lord's.
What was the score in the 1983 World Cup final?
India scored 183 all out and bowled West Indies out for 140.
Who was man of the match in the 1983 final?
Mohinder Amarnath, for his 26 runs and 3 wickets for 12 runs.
Who took the catch to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 final?
Kapil Dev took a famous running catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Viv Richards, the turning point of the final.
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.