June 25, 1983 is a date etched in Indian cricket history. On this day, 42 years ago, Kapil Dev’s India stunned the cricketing world by defeating the mighty West Indies to claim their maiden ICC World Cup title at Lord’s. The triumph not only reshaped the sport’s landscape in India but also sparked a generation of dreams, one of which belonged to 10-year-old Sachin Tendulkar. Now widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in the history of the game, Tendulkar took to X on the anniversary of that iconic win to share how that moment changed his life forever. “I was just 10 when India won the World Cup on this day in 1983. That moment sparked a dream, and that dream became my journey,” wrote the legend as he shared of picture of the iconic squad that scripted history over three decades ago. India’s underdog victory against the two-time reigning champions was not just a sporting upset, rather, it was a statement of belief and grit. Defending a modest 183 on a lively Lord’s pitch, India’s bowlers dismantled a star-studded West Indies lineup that included legends like Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd and Desmond Haynes.
Sachin Tendulkar’s X post on the anniversary of India’s iconic victory in 1983 (Image via X/@sachin_rt)
The Windies, cruising at one stage, were rocked by a flurry of wickets to find themselves at 76/6. Despite a brief recovery, they eventually folded for 140, handing India a historic 43-run win.
Mohinder Amarnath was named Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance, scoring 26 valuable runs and picking up three crucial wickets. But it was the image of Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup on the balcony of Lord’s that resonated across generations.
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That moment ignited the passion of millions. For a young Tendulkar, it lit the path that would lead to a glittering 24-year career, countless records, and eventually, his own World Cup win in 2011.
