Kapil Dev 175*

There have been reams and reams written about this performance, but it's one that will never fade from memory. Kapil Dev's Indians (or Kapil's Devils) were in a spot of bother against a lowly Zimbabwe side at Tunbridge Wells back in 1983. Walking in with India tottering at 9 for 4 (later 17 for 5), Kapil proceeded to construct one of the finest innings ever in the history of one-day international cricket. This innings also ensured that India won the match and did not lose momentum en route their quest for the 1983 World Cup title. But why was this innings so important? The reasons are many.

For one, it was the first ODI hundred by an Indian and it had taken almost 10 years of playing one-day cricket for India to see this day. The other being the ever-present and well-documented Indian weaknesses on bouncy wickets and Kapil's innings helped erase some doubts about this. A loss in this game could well have had psychological implications on the rest of the campaign as well and hence, it was necessary that India win.

Kapil's innings went a long way in showing that the Indian batting need not crumble. He faced almost half the overs in the innings and scored about 65 per cent of India's runs. With six 6s and 16 fours, this was one of the best innings ever till then. This, however, was also Kapil's only ODI hundred. Starting off cautiously, all Kapil really needed was some assistance at the other end. There were able players like Roger Binny and Ravi Shastri to rebuild the innings with too. And he set about doing just that. But Ravi Shastri and Roger Binny fell in the same over leaving India at 78 for 7, leaving the captain furious. Fortunately, he found his ally in the able 'keeper-batsmam Syed Kirmani. Together, they put up an unbeaten partnership. In the final 11 overs of the innings, he scored at almost seven an over in what remains a world record ninth-wicket partnership of 126.

Although Kapil did not have such a good time with the ball, he was the most economical of India's bowlers and symbolically, picked up the last Zimbabwean wicket to seal India's win. To some extent, this performance personified the character of Kapil Dev: strong, fearless and hungry to win. Just the captain to take the team to a World Cup triumph.