1983 World Cup win anniversary: ‘Let’s fight it out’ – Balwinder Sandhu and Madan Lal recall Kapil Dev’s golden words | Cricket News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: ‘Let’s fight it out, guys’, India captain Kapil Dev said loudly while entering the dressing room after India posted 183 runs on the board in the epic 1983 World Cup final against the mighty West Indies. And, the rest as they say is history.
Defending 183, the Indian bowlers wrapped up the West Indies innings for 140, claiming a 43-run win and the title for the country.
Balwinder Sandhu, who claimed the first wicket in the summit clash against the West Indies in the form of Gordon Greenidge for just 1, spoke to TimesofIndia.com taking us down memory lane.
“Kapil was very confident and positive. The score was really low (183). The West Indies could achieve it. We were all waiting to take the field. Kapil came into the dressing room and there was hope in his eyes. He shouted ‘let’s fight it out, guys. They will have to make 184 to win. So, let’s do it’. We were all pumped up,” Balwinder told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview on the 39th anniversary of India’s unforgettable 1983 ODI World Cup win.

“I can’t believe it has been 39 years. That was an epic tournament and so was the final match. No one believed we could win. We were not tagged as favourites but all credit to Kapil and the way he took the team forward. Kapil will always remain our captain. He will always be my captain. We still meet and discuss a lot of things. We all laugh and reminisce. We have a lot of memories and we will cherish those forever,” the former pacer further told TimesofIndia.com.

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“Kapil was an instinctive captain and he led from the front. His hunger for wins never died. We were ready to die for him on the ground. That was the kind of commitment I had for him. Such love and affection I have for him. Even now, I say I can do anything for him,” Balwinder further said.
For Balwinder, Kapil’s epic 175 run knock vs Zimbabwe and lifting the trophy in the final are the two most unforgettable moments from the 1983 World Cup.

“Kapil Dev lifting the Cup – It was a magical moment for me. I can still feel that moment. I still get goosebumps when I recall that moment. No one believed in us but we believed in ourselves. My favourite match was the Zimbabwe game and I will never forget that match. It was the toughest game for us. We were down and out. But Kapil Dev ensured we kept our heads held high. He brought us back into the game,” the 65 year old Sandhu further shared.
The match vs Zimbabwe was a crucial clash for India. They found themselves in a precarious position, tottering at 17-5. Kapil Dev’s innings of 175* helped India romp home in style. The 175* vs Zimbabwe in fact remained Kapil Dev’s highest ODI score throughout his career. Unfortunately there is no footage of that match because the BBC was on strike that day.

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“It was a different Kapil that day (vs Zimbabwe). He single-handedly won that match for us. We were 5 down, but it was Kapil who gave us big hope. We couldn’t stop clapping and cheering from the dressing room,” Balwinder recalled.
MADDI PAA AND THE PLAN vs THE LEGENDARY VIV RICHARDS
Madan Lal, who claimed three wickets in the final – Desmond Haynes (13), Viv Richards (33) and Larry Gomes (5), also recalled how he and Kapil together planned to dismiss the dangerous Viv Richards in the final.
Madan Lal was getting hammered by Richards. Things weren’t working out. Kapil decided to bring someone else into the attack.
Madan wanted to do the job for his team and he decided to rush to Kapil and asked for one more over. He managed to convince Kapil. And he managed to send the dangerous Richards back to the pavilion for 33. Interestingly, Kapil took Viv’s catch while running backwards off Madan Lal’s bowling.

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“I didn’t like the fact that I was being hit. It was the final and I wanted to get rid of him (Viv Richards). Thanks to Kapil for giving me one more over. He believed in me. I didn’t want to disappoint him. The monkey was off my back. The pressure was gone,” Madan Lal told TimesofIndia.com.
“Lifting the World Cup trophy at Lord’s, in front of a huge gathering of fans who were clapping and shouting, was surreal. I still get goosebumps when I recall that moment. The cheers still reverberate in my ears. Kapil said one thing after we posted 183 in the final – ‘Let’s fight it out’. And we are happy that we did that and created history. No one believed in us but we believed in ourselves,” Madan Lal further told TimesofIndia.com.
“The best thing is that people recognise us. When I go out, people say ‘He is Madan Lal, the World Cup winner’. That’s an amazing feeling,” Madan Lal signed off.