Can you believe that the Indian team played less than 35 matches between the period of 1983 and 1987 World Cup? In this age and time, the average matches played by the Indian team is close to 30+. But, that is how ODIs were played then. India won the right to host the World Cup at home with Pakistan. Kapil Dev was the captain once again, trying to replicate his earlier success at England.
India unleashed a new sensation at the World Cup - one who had made his test debut earlier but had gone for a makeover just before the Cup to don the title of Sixer Siddhu. Sunil Gavaskar had made his mind to retire after the World Cup and he would continue to open the batting with Srikkanth. Siddhu would come down the order at No.3. Siddhu began with a bang by hitting four fifties in a row. A big revelation for one who was dubbed as the Strokeless Wonder just couple of years earlier.
Siddhu made his mark in the tournament, especially with his batting against spinners. It would be commonplace to see him jump down the track to opposition spinners and loft them for huge sixes. Ten sixes in the five innings he played meant that Siddhu overshone everyone in the tournament. Alas, it was not enough for India to win the trophy but the country had a match-winner and a handy replacement for Gavaskar in ODIs once he retired.
India unleashed a new sensation at the World Cup - one who had made his test debut earlier but had gone for a makeover just before the Cup to don the title of Sixer Siddhu. Sunil Gavaskar had made his mind to retire after the World Cup and he would continue to open the batting with Srikkanth. Siddhu would come down the order at No.3. Siddhu began with a bang by hitting four fifties in a row. A big revelation for one who was dubbed as the Strokeless Wonder just couple of years earlier.
Siddhu made his mark in the tournament, especially with his batting against spinners. It would be commonplace to see him jump down the track to opposition spinners and loft them for huge sixes. Ten sixes in the five innings he played meant that Siddhu overshone everyone in the tournament. Alas, it was not enough for India to win the trophy but the country had a match-winner and a handy replacement for Gavaskar in ODIs once he retired.
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