THE LEGEND OF 83: FROM REAL TO REEL

India created history, winning the World Cup by defeating the mighty West Indies at the same iconic venue...

- 

June 25 is a red-letter day in Indian cricket. It was on this day in 1932 that India played their first-ever Test match at Lord’s. On the same day, 51 years later, India created history, winning the World Cup by defeating the mighty West Indies at the same iconic venue. Director Kabir Khan is now bringing cricket’s greatest underdog story alive on the big screen with the much-anticipated Bollywood film ‘83’.

WHAT 1983 MEANS TO INDIAN CRICKET

The triumph, against all odds, was significant to Indian cricket and world cricket in more ways than one. No one, including India themselves, expected to win the trophy. After all, they had won only one match in the previous two editions. But India, led by an inspired Kapil Dev, went on to lift the trophy. By doing so, they became the first team other than West Indies to win the World Cup.

India’s victory at Lord’s also inspired a whole new generation to take up the sport. Sachin Tendulkar has often admitted that it was the triumph of Kapil’s Devils that made him fall in love with the sport. In the decade that followed, India produced a number of cricketing superstars. Apart from Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble went on to become legends of the game. Off the field as well, the balance of power shifted as India became a dominant nation. India, in fact, went on to successfully host the 1987 World Cup, and have never looked back since.

WHO PLAYS WHOM IN THE FILM ‘83’?

While Kapil was the key figure in India’s triumph, the victory was the perfect epitome of teamwork as everyone contributed in some way or the other. Here’s a look at actors who will reprise the roles of the players, administrators and other important characters.