Cricket World Cup History: Reliving India's journey to the 1983 World Cup triumph

June 18: India vs Zimbabwe, Tunbridge Wells

Kapil Dev played an innings which would be remembered for long ages.

Losing two games in a row, India were eyeing a comeback against Zimbabwe. Kapil Dev won the toss and opted to bat first.

In what was a must-win game, the Indian top-order had no clues whatsoever against some world-class bowling of Rawson and Curran. India lost their top-order with the scorecard reading 9/4 as Kapil Dev walked in to bat at the Nevill Ground.

Mixing up his innings with patience and aggression, Kapil Dev stood firm at one end while wickets kept tumbling at the other. India were soon reduced to 17/5 and then to 77/7, a point at which Kapil Dev decided to change gears.

Dev launched an onslaught as the Zimbabwe bowlers were thrashed all over the ground. He went on to score the highest individual scores in ODIs back then and remained unbeaten on 175 off just 138 deliveries.

His innings was compiled with 17 boundaries and six humongous sixes as India posted a total of 266/8 in 60 overs.

The Zimbabwean openers gave their team a good start in the chase but wickets kept falling that dented the chase. Curran was the lone fighter with his 73. Madan Lal picked three wickets for India as Zimbabwe were all-out for 235.

Undoubtedly, Kapil Dev was handed the 'Man of the Match' award for his game-changing innings.