5 incidents which changed cricket forever

#4 Kapil Dev\'s 175 in the 1983 World Cup

Kapil Dev in action against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup

Few predicted India to mount a serious challenge at the 1983 World Cup; however, ultimately, it turned out to be the event where they really announced themselves as a cricketing powerhouse. In the final, they shocked the world by defending 183 to dethrone West Indies, who had won the first two editions of the competitions. Yet it was the actions of Kapil Dev in the group stage that really kick-started his country’s bid.

Locked in a battle with Australia to progress through Group B in second place, India’s hopes were in danger of fading rapidly as they collapsed to 17-5 against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells. Openers Sunil Gavaskar and Kris Srikkanth both fell without scoring, and the failure of the entire top-order meant it was Kapil’s job to get the team to a fighting 60-over score.

He did much more than that. In a spellbinding attack, he smashed 175 from 138 balls – the world record ODI innings at the time – to haul India to 266-8, with 16 fours and six maximums. Syed Kirmani was the next highest scorer with 24. The Zimbabweans were bowled out for 235 as India pinched a 31-run win, and the latter cemented their place in the semi-finals by hammering Australia in the final group game. And we all know what happened next.