We still have pictures of an elated Mohinder Amarnath going for the stumps after India's historic World Cup victory at Lords on June 25th,1983. But has anyone ever wondered as to where lies that historic ball, which got Michael Holding - the last West Indian batsman - out. It has taken 25 long years to crack this trivia and now it's fnally out. Just recently, I was a part of an event that was organised to kick start the silver jubilee celebrations of India's historic World Cup victory and the dais being shared by two greats, Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, both recalling those moments of glory. And just when we thought we knew everything, Gavaskar startled all by revealing a fact that the world was yet to know.
Well it was the last ball of the 52nd over. West Indies were reeling at 140 for the loss of nine wickets. They needed another 44 runs for their third straight World Cup win but had their backs to the wall as the last wicket took centrestage. Mohinder Amarnath started his run up to bowl to Michael Holding. The spectators were all sitting on the edge as everyone at Lords knew that it was just a matter of one ball and India was on its way to creating history. Sunil Gavaskar was fielding at backward point. As Amarnath bowled, the ball hit Holding's pad and the rest is history. Over the years, Indians have watched over and over again on TV Amarnath appealing and Umpire Dickie Bird raising his fingers to signal that India was the new World Champion. Amarnath, Yashpal Sharma and Madan Lal each managed to get a stump for themselves respectively from the batting end, as the jubilant crowd engulfed them on the field.
But what none of us had seen is what Gavaskar revealed. As has been written before, Sunny was fielding at backward point. As the ball hit Holding's pads, it went straight to backward point and completely unaware of the fact that Dickie Bird had already raised his finger signalling an out, Sunny like a committed fielder grabbed the ball to ensure that an extra run was saved. But as he looked up, he saw a mad rush of spectators who on to the field. Realising that they had won the match and the World Cup, he ran towards the dressing room with the ball in hand, the fastest ever sprint that he could ever think of.
So for all those who were guessing about the whereabouts of that historic ball, Sunny still has it with him.
Well it was the last ball of the 52nd over. West Indies were reeling at 140 for the loss of nine wickets. They needed another 44 runs for their third straight World Cup win but had their backs to the wall as the last wicket took centrestage. Mohinder Amarnath started his run up to bowl to Michael Holding. The spectators were all sitting on the edge as everyone at Lords knew that it was just a matter of one ball and India was on its way to creating history. Sunil Gavaskar was fielding at backward point. As Amarnath bowled, the ball hit Holding's pad and the rest is history. Over the years, Indians have watched over and over again on TV Amarnath appealing and Umpire Dickie Bird raising his fingers to signal that India was the new World Champion. Amarnath, Yashpal Sharma and Madan Lal each managed to get a stump for themselves respectively from the batting end, as the jubilant crowd engulfed them on the field.
But what none of us had seen is what Gavaskar revealed. As has been written before, Sunny was fielding at backward point. As the ball hit Holding's pads, it went straight to backward point and completely unaware of the fact that Dickie Bird had already raised his finger signalling an out, Sunny like a committed fielder grabbed the ball to ensure that an extra run was saved. But as he looked up, he saw a mad rush of spectators who on to the field. Realising that they had won the match and the World Cup, he ran towards the dressing room with the ball in hand, the fastest ever sprint that he could ever think of.
So for all those who were guessing about the whereabouts of that historic ball, Sunny still has it with him.
2 comments:
nice piece .... mera photo nahi dalaaa !!!!
IWs a gud read. Am already eager fr a glimpse of the ball still with Sunny Gavaskar sumday..
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