By Aroonim Bhuyan, IANS,
Dubai : Going down the memory lane, India’s 1983 cricket World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev said it was team spirit and camradarie that helped them lift the title against all odds.
“We had great team spirit and everybody was very motivated. I still remember, I didn’t require to say, ‘Lets go for practice’,” said Kapil.
Kapil was speaking at a press conference here as part of the ‘Legends of Lords’ silver jubilee celebrations where all 14 members of the victorious Indian team were present.
For those present at the new Atlantis, the Palm, resort on the crest of the Palm Jumeira artificial island off the coast of Dubai, it was a walk down memory lane, when the members of the 1983 team walked in with Kapil leading.
Kapil said his ‘Devils’ could still face the same West Indies side led by Clive Lloyd, they had beaten in that memorable final at Lord’s.
“If somebody still doubts after 25 years, I have no words,” he said
“We can face anybody, even the rest of the world. When your team is on a high, you are going firm, you are not afraid of anybody,” he said.
Echoing Kapil’s view, Sunil Gavaskar said: “I believe that the mateship that we had in that team of 1983 was extraordinary. Extraordinary, because, as Kapil said, it was not just a matter of going to practice, it was a matter of going to functions, the punctuality factor, everything was absolutely spot on.”
Stating that the same spirit prevails even today among them, he said “the leg-pulling still goes on”.
Lauding Kapil’s captaincy, he said: “Kapil’s leadership was phenomenal and that innings of 175 (against Zimbabwe in the league stage) was the best one-day innings I ever saw.”
Dubai-based real estate developers Al Barakah, the title sponsors of the ‘Legends of Lord’s’ event, announced that it would present a fully furnished three-bedroom apartment to the champion team in an upcoming project where the players and their families can stay whenever they visited Dubai.
“The apartment that will be presented to the team will be fully furnished and
well-equipped with all modern amenities,” Imran Khan, chief executive of Al Barakah, said.
Ajay Sethi, chairman of Channel 2 group, the official hosts and promoters of the Dubai event, said he had been planning to organise the event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a long time.
“There is a large expatriate Indian population residing here for whom the World Cup victory 25 years back is a moment of pure joy and pride,” he said.
There are around 1.5 million expatriate Indians in the UAE.
The Dubai event, where the members of the champion side will be felicitated by UAE Minister for Higher Education Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan at a function Thursday night, marking the grand finale of the silver jubilee celebrations of the 1983 victory.