25th June 1983 was a landmark day in Indian cricket as team India won the Prudential World Cup. A result that no one expected once India were about to contest the final against the mighty West Indies. The Indian skipper Kapil Dev was the influential leader of his side and consisted of several talented players. The ‘Haryana Hurricane’ believed in the ability of his players and always back them during the world cup.
Today we look at where are the players of the champions side that were part of the greatest day in Indian cricket history:
Sunil Gavaskar
The legendary former opening batsman of India is currently one of the most popular commentators in the game. Sunil Gavaskar was always a student of the game that had an astute cricketing mind.
After he retired from cricket he was able to start his new innings in the commentary box and became equally successful. He is currently associated with Star and is part of the commentary panel of every home match of the men in blue.
Kapil Dev
The charismatic world cup winning captain of India Kapil Dev much like Gavaskar has had a stint in the commentary. The great all-rounder has over the years been an active commentator who would give his insights about the game in Hindi.
He has now become a popular face on television as he appears a cricket expert on various news channels as well. Kapil Dev till today enjoy a huge fan following and his fans actively follow their hero on various social media platforms.
Kris Srikkanth
The ‘Smiling Assassin’ Srikkanth was the highest run-scorer in 1983 final. After retiring from the game he had a career in sports broadcasting and worked as a cricket expert and talked in detail about Indian team matches.
Ironically, Kris Srikkanth was also the chief selector of team India under the leadership of MS Dhoni that won the World Cup for the second time in 2011.
Mohinder Amarnath
The player of the match in the semis and the final of the world cup in the 1983 world cup. Amarnath brought his A-game in the crunch matches of the world cup and contributed with both bat and ball.
Post-retirement was the coach at Khar Gymkhana in Mumbai and later he started his cricket academy at Baroda. He was also the national selector of the Indian team for a year before he had a conflict with the board. On occasion, he also has worked as an expert and talked about the game on news channels.
Yashpal Sharma
Former India cricketer Yashpal Sharma scored a crucial fifty in the group match against West Indies that India won. In the semis against England, he again contributed valuable runs to take Indian home. After calling it quits he became a cricket expert on TV and is still actively working with news channel India TV.
Sandeep Patil
He is currently away from all the glitz and glamour and enjoying a peaceful life with his family in “Lavasa”. Sandeep Patil is currently associated with no media work but appears on special shows related to the 1983 world cup victory with the entire team.
The former India wicket-keeper batsman has served as the chairman of the national selection committee apart from various other stints with various organisations.
Kirti Azad
Azad has proved to be perfect all-rounder after his cricket career. He has been an activist, politician, media expert and gained popularity in every field. Azad is still an active politician that also is seen appearing on cricket shows on television.
The former cricketer has also been seen speaking strongly upon the corruption in Delhi and District Cricket Association.
Syed Kirmani
One of the finest wicket ever wicket-keeper-batsman to play for India. Kirmani was also part of the famous world winning 1983 Indian team. He had a career as an administrator in the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
For a brief period, Kirmani was also the national selector before entering in the field of media as an expert.
Roger Binny
He was the highest wicket-taker of the 1983 cricket world cup. The former skilful swing bowler Roger Binny is currently the president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
After his retirement, he has spent quite a few time in coaching budding cricketers and was also the national selector. Binny is now settled in his home state in Bengaluru and spends most of his time on his farm on the outskirts of Bandipur National Park.
Balvinder Sandu
The medium-fast bowler dismissed Gordon Greenidge early on in the West Indies run chase in the final. Sandhu is the unofficial director of the film ‘1983 Heroes’ which ready to hit the theatres. Post-retirement he has been an active coach at various levels of cricket in India.
Madan Lal
The man that picked the biggest wicket of 1983 final when he dismissed the great Sir Viv Richards. Madan Lal has worked as a cricket expert for India Today and is one of the most popular faces on television.
He also loves playing Golf which has always been one of his favourite sports. The former cricketer now considers himself as a media man who also has an academy as the Sri Fort Complex in New Delhi.
Sunil Valson
A decent cricket player during his career Sunil Valson after retirement had a career in the corporate sector at the Steel Authority of India Limited where he quit as a senior manager. He stays away from the media and enjoys a peaceful life between Delhi and Dehradun.
Dilip Vengsarkar
The stylish former batsman Dilip Vengsarkar played a crucial role in India’s 1983 World Cup-winning. Meanwhile, after retirement worked as an administrator at the Mumbai Cricket Association.
He was also the former national selector of team India. Vengsarkar also has a cricket academy near Mumbai which is very close to his heart.
Man Singh
Known as the lucky mascot of the Indian team during the 1983 world cup. Man Singh was the manager of the Indian team 4 years later in the 1987 world cup. In Hyderabad, he has his museum of priceless memorabilia to maintain and the family business to handle named Ram Singh Aggarwal Wines.
Ravi Shastri
Last but certainly not least is the ‘Champion of Champions’ Ravi Shastri. After his cricket career, he became one of the most popular commentators in the world. He has given voice to several key events in Indian cricket over the years.
Shastri also had a long media career where he was an expert of various cricket shows. He is currently the head coach of the Indian cricket team and still manages to grab eyeballs through his powerful statement off the field.