Maxwell's Grit at Mumbai Echoes Kapil Dev's Iconic 1983 World Cup Innings

As Glenn Maxwell's scintillating 201* steered Australia to an improbable victory at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium yesterday, memories of another World Cup rescue act were evoked amongst the Indian cricketing fraternity.

Yesterday's innings drew an uncanny parallel with Kapil Dev's legendary 175 not out in the 1983 World Cupagainst Zimbabwe – both innings marked by indomitable spirit and sheer willpower to flip the script against all odds.

Maxwell, battling cramps and physical constraints, mirrored the grit and determination shown by Kapil Dev four decades earlier.

Kapil's partnership with the lower order had been the cornerstone of India's fighting total, setting the stage for a victory that would ultimately inspire a cricket-crazy nation to believe in miracles.

If you are talking about a batting innings that every cricket lover in India knows by heart, it's Kapil Dev's incredible 175 not out in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe. This wasn't just any match; it was a do-or-die situation for India at the Nevill Ground in Tunbridge Wells.

Imagine this – India's top order had just crumbled like a house of cards, with the scoreboard showing a sorry 17 for 5. In walks Kapil Dev, the skipper, with a mountain to climb.


With a cool head and a heart full of courage, he first steadied the ship, then took the game to the opposition. Partnering up first with Binny, then with Madan Lal, Kapil Dev started rebuilding what seemed like a lost cause.

But the real magic started when Kirmani came to the crease. Kapil Paaji shifted gears and went on the offensive, treating the Zimbabwean bowlers with a disdain that would make any fan swell with pride.

His 175 runs came off just 138 balls, at a time when hitting big was more the exception than the norm. He smashed the ball to every corner of the ground, notching up a stunning 16 boundaries and 6 sixes. That innings was the backbone of India's fightback, ending up at a respectable 266 for 8.


Now, here’s the twist in the tale – none of us got to see this live on TV. It's not because of a BBC strike, as some stories suggest. On June 18, 1983, there were four World Cup matches on the calendar, and BBC decided that the India-Zimbabwe game was the least interesting one.

You see, back then, BBC didn't cover more than two matches in one day. So, they picked the other matches, leaving the India vs Zimbabwe game out in the cold.

This means the only people who saw that legendary innings live were the lucky ones at the Tunbridge Wells ground. For the rest of us, it became a tale passed down through the generations, growing in stature and becoming an epic part of our cricketing folklore.

Kapil Dev's 175 not out is an innings that went beyond runs and records. It was about fighting spirit, national pride, and sheer willpower. It’s what cricket dreams are made of, and even without the TV cameras rolling, it became an innings that every cricket fan in India will remember forever. – TWL Bureau