Dev's Devils!

Some vignettes from Nikhil Naz's fabulous book on India's 1983 World Cup win :

* Sachin Tendulkar watches the 1983 finals in the flat of a neighbour. He loses interest after India lost 4 wickets and goes home to catch up with John McEnroe's Wimbledon match on radio at his home.

* Kirti Azad is selected in the World Cup team and he thanks Kapil Dev for granting him a "free holiday". "It's not like we are going to win anything much,right?". Kapil is not pleased. He says," No we will fight. No matter the team or the result."

* Sunil Gavaskar asks Srikanth, "Do you want to go for your second honeymoon, Cheeka?" after the latter's selection to the World Cup squad.

* In a Doordarshan interview, the anchor asks Kapil Dev , "So looking forward to your next assignment ?". Kapil answers , "No. I don't want to look forward. I like to stay in the present."

* India loses three out of 4 warm-up games. The lone win is against Sri Lanka. Sir Garfield Sobers says " These guys might be the underdogs, but watch out for them in the World Cup".

* David Frith writes in the June 1983 issue of Wisden Monthly that ICC has done a disservice to cricket by inviting a team as average as India to participate in the World Cup.

* India defeats West Indies in their first League stage match. British press dubs it as a "flash in the pan". Times' headline : "The favourites pay heavily for their complacency".

* The Indian team is watching an X-rated "Blue" film in their luxury bus. The highway patrol chases the bus and warns the team that they have three complaints from people travelling on the same route as the Indian players had not even drawn the bus curtains.

* There are no video cameras at the Tunbridge Wells ground in which Kapil's memorable 175* vs Zimbabwe was played.

* At the India vs Zimbabwe post-match press conference ,Kapil is asked, "Will India ever produce another Kapil Dev?". He replies, " Never. My mother old,father no more".

* Before the semi-final with England, the BBC talkshow is all about an England vs West Indies final because the experts are sure that India's match will be a mere formality.

* Before the final, Ravi Shastri comes to know that he is dropped. He keeps himself busy by calculating how much he will benefit monetarily, dividing the 20000 pounds promised by BCCI amongst the 14 members mentally.

* During the semi-final, Kirti Azad asks during the lunch break if he will be asked to bowl after lunch as he had to change to a more comfortable shoes if he is not bowling. Kapil says " Whatever you feel like". But immediately after lunch, Kapil asks him to bowl and Kirti is confused. After the match is over, Kirti confronts Kapil over this. Kapil smiles and says, " If I had, you would have started thinking extra about how to bowl the next 6 overs. So I thought best not to tell you so that you don't overthink."

* During the finals, Srikkanth is humming his favourite Bollywood song, "Tere mere beech mein kaisa hai yen bandhan" at the crease to ensure he is stress-free while facing the Windies pacers.

* Wives of Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Madan Lal leave to Oxford street for shopping when WI is batting in the finals as they are sure that India would lose.

To buy the book, https://www.amazon.in/Miracle-Men-Greatest-Underdog-Cricket/dp/9388322231/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=miracle+men&qid=1561127712&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1