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Scene 1
Mohinder Amarnath to Holding. Wrapped on the pads. That is out. It is all over this time. Lost his nerve, in the end, is Michael Holding. India are the World champions.
Scene 2
India one hit away from winning the World Cup. Kulasekara to Dhoni. Dhoni finishes off in style. A magnificent strike into the crowd. India lift the World Cup after 28 years. The party begins in the dressing room. It is the Indian captain who was absolutely magnificent on the night of the final.
Those two emotional scenes were 28 years apart. Both etched in the memory of every Indian fan forever. While India winning the World Cup in 1983 was the mother of all upsets, the same achievement after 28 years on home ground was not totally unexpected.
In this article, an exciting attempt is made to select 11 players out of the 22 who played those two World cups. It is an extremely difficult job to select 11 players from a pool of 22 talented cricketers who brought a lot of laurels to the nation.
Hence the following hypothesis has been made in selecting the best playing XI.
1. In view of the World Cup in England in 2019, this team has been chosen keeping in mind the English conditions.
2. The performances of the players in those two World Cups, especially the performance in the semi-finals and finals, has been the criteria for the selection.
3. The current stature and the reputation of the players are not taken into account in the selection.
4. In order to give equal weight, 5 players from the 1983 World Cup winning team and 6 players from the Dhoni-led team have been selected. The twelfth man is from Kapil’s devils.
#1. Krishnamachari Srikkanth
Kris Srikkanth had been the pioneer innovator in going for the lofted shots over the top in the first powerplay. Before Srikkanth arrived on the scene, the openers used to approach the first 10 overs of a one day match just like a Test match. Srikkanth changed those dynamics with his daredevil approach to bating.
Srikkanth's naturally aggressive intent helped him to make the change quite easily. On the lines of Srikkanth, so many pinch-hitters at the top arrived on the one day scene. Mark Greatbatch, Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana to name a few.
Though Srikkanth was not in the best of forms in the World Cup 1983, he contributed in the crucial semi-final and the final. In the semi-final, Srikkanth added 46 runs with Sunil Gavaskar. In the all-important final, Srikkanth was the highest scorer from either team when he scored 38 with 7 fours and a huge six off Andy Roberts.
Roberts dug one in short and Srikkanth pulled him down the pavilion for four. The next ball was a fast bouncer from Roberts and Srikkanth hooked it for a six. However, Srikkanth’s spectacular shot was a square drive he played on his knees off Joel Garner. When Srikkanth got out on 38 runs, no one would have thought that would be the highest score of the final.
For his aggressive instincts at the top, Srikkanth would be the ideal opener for the combined playing XI.
#2. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar’s distinguished career would not have been complete without a World Cup victory under his belt. Sachin was sixth time lucky in 2011 when he played in a World Cup for the last time.
Sachin's record across six World Cups is remarkable. As of now, in World Cups, Sachin holds the record of most number of runs (2278), most centuries (6), most fifties (15), most runs in a World Cup – 673 in the 2003 World Cup. His average in World Cup stands at 57.
In 2003, India came so close to winning the World Cup under Sourav Ganguly when they lost to the then-defending champion Australia in the final. India and Sachin had to wait for 8 more years to reach the final of a World Cup.
In the 2011 World Cup, Sachin was in tremendous form as he scored 482 runs including two hundred. In the quarter-final against the defending champion Australia, India were chasing a tricky target of 260 for a win. Sachin scored a crucial 53 off 68 balls.
In the semi-final against arch-rivals Pakistan, Sachin was the top scorer with 85 of 115 balls. Sachin was quite fortunate in that innings when he was saved by the technology twice. He was also dropped on four occasions when on 27, 45, 70 and 81. To Sachin’s credit, he hung on amidst all ruins to enable India to reach a respectable score.
Though Sachin didn’t score too many in the finals, he was instrumental in India reaching the final.
Sachin would be the ideal opening partner for Srikkanth.
#3. Gautam Gambhir
Many would be surprised to see Gautam Gambhir at No. 3 as the obvious choice would have been King Kohli. But this team has been based on the performances of the players in the respective World Cups.
Gambhir scored 393 runs including four 50s in World Cup 2011. He came in at the crucial No. 3 position and made some valuable contributions for the team.
In the quarter-final against the then-defending champion Australia, India were chasing a score of 261 and lost Sehwag early in the innings. Gambhir came in and added 50 runs for the second wicket with Sachin and 49 for the third wicket with Kohli. Immediately after reaching his fifty, he ran himself out with the Indian score on 168, but he had played his part.
Gambhir had a quiet semi-final against Pakistan. In the final, India were chasing a tough target of 275 for a World Cup win after 28 years. Malinga got rid of both the Indian openers with the Indian total on 31.
At such a tricky situation, Gambhir decided to anchor the innings. One more wicket at that stage would have been curtains for India’s aspiration to win the World Cup. He had a crucial partnership of 83 runs with Virat Kohli for the third wicket. Gambhir reached his 50 off 56 balls with 6 fours.
When Virat got out, Dhoni surprisingly walked in at No. 5 to join Gambhir. These two experienced campaigners put on 109 runs for the fourth wicket which took India to safety.
Gambhir was nearing his century when a sudden rush of blood cost him his wicket. Gambhir should have become the first Indian to score a century in a World Cup final. However, with his innings of 97, he had already played his part.
It is heartening to note that Gambhir was the highest scorer in the final of both the T20 World Cup in 2007 and the 50 over World Cup in 2011. Time and again, he has proved himself to be a big match player.
Gautam Gambhir will be the No. 3 batsman in the team.
#4. Mohinder Amarnath
Mohinder Amarnath was awarded man of the match in the semi-final and final and the man of the series of World Cup 1983 which was a rare feat.
Amarnath came into World Cup 1983 after a successful tour of West Indies where he scored 598 runs at an average of 66. Amarnath made a useful contribution to India’s passage to the semi-final.
In the semi-final, when England batted first, Mohinder Amarnath completed his full quota of 12 overs and took 2 wickets for 27 runs. Those two wickets were that of the England star batsmen: David Gower and Mike Gatting. While batting, Amarnath scored 46 before he was run-out.
In the final, Amarnath scored 26 in India’s score of 183. Amarnath played out 80 balls in that innings. In reply, West Indies lost 6 wickets for 76 before Jeff Dujon and Malcolm Marshall added 43 runs making the Indian team and the fans nervous.
Kapil brought on Amarnath with the match hanging in balance. In his very first over, Amarnath struck when Dujon played onto his off-stump. He then got the other set batsman- Marshall caught by Gavaskar in the slips.
Fittingly enough, Amarnath got the last man Michael Holding trapped to the jubilation of the Indian fans all over the world. Amarnath finished with figures of 7-0-12-3.
Mohinder Amarnath is the No. 4 batsman in this team.
#5. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh started his World Cup 2011 campaign by scoring 3 fifties against England, Ireland and Netherland. In the match against Ireland, apart from scoring a fifty, Yuvraj also took 5 wickets. He followed it up with a century against the West Indies. More than his batting, it was Yuvraj the 5th bowler who impressed one and all.
In the 2011 World Cup, apart from scoring 362 runs, Yuvraj took 15 wickets and was the deserving contender for the man of the series award.
In the quarter-final, Yuvraj scored 57 not out and along with Suresh Raina, took India home. Though he failed with the bat in the semi-final, Yuvraj contributed with the bat by dismissing Younis Khan and Azad Shafiq. In the final, Yuvraj took the all-important wicket of Sangakkara and Samaraweera and remained not out on 21.
Yuvraj was instrumental in India winning both the T20 and 50 over World Cups.
Yuvraj Singh should be the No. 5 batsman in the team.
6. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Wicket-Keeper and Vice-Captain
Dhoni’s form with the bat was not at all encouraging leading into the World Cup final of 2011. But on the night of the final, his fortunes changed dramatically. At the fall of Kohli’s wicket, everyone expected the man of the tournament- Yuvraj Singh to walk in.
To the utter disbelief of the fans, Dhoni made a bold move in promoting himself to No. 5 to tackle the off-spin of Muthiah Muralidharan. It was a masterstroke from the captain as he scored a match-winning 91 off just 79 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Aside from taking care of Murali, Dhoni tonked the fast bowlers Malinga, Kulasekara and Thisara Perera. Dhoni finished off the match in style by depositing Kulasekara’s length ball into the Arabian Sea.
Dhoni is the wicket-keeper and vice-captain of this team
#7. Kapil Dev – Captain
When India started their World Cup campaign in 1983, no one in the world believed that India were serious contenders except one man. That one man was the Indian captain, the one and only Kapil Dev. India progressed into that World Cup due to the confidence of their captain and the prayers of the millions of fans.
India were facing the possibility of an early exit from the World Cup in their match against Zimbabwe when they were at 17 for 5. Kapil Dev walked in and played one of the greatest one-day innings of all time.
Kapil scored 175 not out off 138 balls with 16 fours and 6 sixes. Kapil put on 126 runs with Kirmani for the ninth wicket in which Kirmani’s contribution was a meagre but vital 24. Kapil Dev came back to bowl 11 overs and took 1 wicket.
That innings from Kapil Dev was the turning point for India in World Cup 1983. Again, in the finals, Vivian Richards was going great guns when he had hit 7 fours in the 27 balls he had faced.
With Richards in such a blistering form, everyone was expecting an early finish. Richards had hit Madan Lal for 3 fours in an over. Kapil Dev was brave enough to give Madan Lal another over. Madan Lal bowled a short ball around the off-stump. Richards tried to deposit that short ball at mid-wicket. It was a top edge and the ball went miles up in the air.
Kapil Dev was fielding at mid-on. He started running towards the ball and the ball was going away from him. Running backwards, Kapil took a sensational catch to dismiss Richards.
Richard's dismissal was the turning point of the final.
There is no better player than Kapil Dev to lead this combined Indian team.
#8. Roger Binny
Roger Binny was the highest wicket-taker in World Cup 1983 with 18 wickets to his name. Binny could swing the ball either way and thrived whenever there was the slightest hint of swing in the air. He was the ideal swing bowler on English conditions.
In the World Cup 1983, Binny made his presence felt by claiming the wickets of Vivian Richards, Clive Lloyd and Jeff Dujon in India’s first group match against West Indies. Binny took 3 more wickets against Zimbabwe.
In the crucial match against Australia, Binny took 4 wickets including the wickets of Graham Wood, Graham Yallop and David Hookes to derail the Australian chase.
In the semi-final, Binny cleaned up both the England openers. Binny finished the World Cup with the wicket of the West Indies Captain Clive Lloyd in the final.
Roger Binny will be one of the seam bowlers in this lineup.
#9. Madan Lal
Madan Lal was next to Roger Binny with 17 wickets in the 1983 World Cup. Madan Lal took 4 wickets against Australia and 3 wickets in the final. His wicket off Vivian Richards was the turning point of the final.
Madan Lal also took the wickets of Desmond Haynes and Larry Gomes which caused a lot of panic in the West Indies dressing room.
Madan Lal is the third seamer in this team.
#10. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan was the highest wicker-talker of World Cup 2011 with 21 wickets. Throughout the tournament, Zaheer Khan had been brilliant. He took the important wickets of Andrew Strauss and Michael Hussey in the group stages.
In the final, his first spell read 5-3-6-1, but Perera took him on in the last 3 overs. Zaheer Khan was India’s unsung hero in the World Cup win in 2011.
Zaheer Khan should open the bowling with Kapil Dev in this team.
#11. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh took 9 wickets in World Cup 2011. Harbhajan was steady right through the World Cup. In the semi-final, he took the important wickets of Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi. In the final too, Harbhajan cleaned up the dangerous Dilshan.
Harbhajan Singh is the off-spinner in this team.
12th Man – Sandeep Patil
The balance of the Team
The selected team has the World’s best batsman, India’s greatest all-rounder, India’s best wicket-keeper, a total of four-seamers plus Amarnath, one off-spinner and one left-arm bowler. This is the most balanced team one would ever get. Set the ball rolling. Game on.
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