While India Cricket Team World Cup win in 1983 was an ‘upset’ for the world cricket, but everything was different in 2011. India, one of the hosts in the 2011 tournament were the favorites then. The two opposite stories had one common thing- good all-rounders in India Cricket Team. 1983 team was lead by one of the best all-rounders accompanied by a few more. In 2011 it was Yuvraj Singh who rose to the occasions whenever the team needed him.
Virat Kohli lead India Cricket Team World Cup squad has a similar man in blue. He till now has done his job well to take the team to the semi-final. Can he be the weapon for Virat in the next phase?
1983- All-Rounder led India
India’s 1983 World Cup triumph was led by Kapil Dev, one of the best all-rounders of that era. His 175 at Tunbridge Wells was the first ODI century by an Indian and it changed the whole dynamic. Zimbabwe was defeated for important two points. Earlier, Kapil had taken 5/43 against Australia to become the first Indian to scalp five wickets in one day cricket.
Overall, Kapil Dev topped the batting average for India Cricket Team in World Cup 1983 with 303 runs at 60.60 and ended as the third-best bowler with 12 wickets at an average of 20.41. He had three more players serving the team with all-around capability. The foremost of them was the man-of-the-match for India, in both semi-final and final, Mohinder Amarnath. The finale saw Amarnath along with Madan Lal scalping three wickets to run through the West Indies line-up. Without their contributions, it was impossible to defend 183.
The vice-captain finally went on to add 237 runs and picked up eight important wickets. Madan Lal ended with 17 wickets and 102 runs) and then there was Then it was Roger Binny (18 wickets and 73 runs) and who delivered at important occasions throughout India’s journey to the title.
2011- All-Rounder stunned India
Yuvraj Singh started off his World Cup journey with a bang by scoring three back to back half-centuries against England, Ireland, and the Netherlands and started the campaign with a bang. He also scalped five wickets against Ireland. He grabbed the Man-of-the-Match award after scoring 100 and taking two wickets against West Indies.
The all-important quarter-final against Australia saw him delivering a fruitful 65-ball 57. Then in the semifinal against Pakistan, he took two major wickets when at crucial points of the chase. The final against Sri Lanka wanted the whole team to work wholeheartedly. It was a mission after 28 long years. Yuvraj repeated his good showing and scalped two important wickets including Kumar Sangakkara. India could finally restrict Sri Lanka for 274/6. With 223/4 on board and MS Dhoni at one end, India needed someone to stay till the end without losing wickets. At the same time, it was important to keep the scoreboard going to the slog. Yuvraj stayed unbeaten with a brilliant cameo of 21 off 24 and witnessed Dhoni’s winning stroke from the non-striker’s end.
He’s scored 362 runs in that tournament including one century and four fifties from nine matches. He became the first all-rounder to score 300 plus run and 15 wickets in a single World Cup. He was, in fact, an easy choice for the Player of the Series award.
2019- All-rounder India need
He was one of the promising World Cup debutants across all teams at the beginning of the tournament. He is the part-time bowling option for Kohli along with Kedar Yadav. But his credibility has now almost made him the 5th bowler in his team.
He is Hardik Pandya.
In the match against Pakistan, Hardik took two significant middle-order wickets in the middle of the Pakistan innings and that changed the course of the match. Even if we do not consider the wickets against Afghanistan and West Indies, in the Bangladesh match once again proved what he is capable of. Chasing 314 Bangladesh were looking solid with Shakib Al Hassan anchoring the chase. It was almost impossible to send him back. But Panda knows the trick! He delivered a slower and Shakib had to surrender. In the 34th over of the Bangladesh innings, the ball was again in India’s court. Well, almost!
Till now Hardik Pandya has emerged as one of the important members for Kohli’s team in the ongoing World Cup. His all-around performance has been helpful for India in crucial matches. He has given breakthroughs with the ball, shown maturity with the bat. He has delivered to his potential to take the team to the top four. Now it is time for the climax. No wonder Kohli will depend a lot on Pandya to have the last laugh.