Former India opener and coach of the Tamil Nadu team, W. V. Raman said that Kapil Dev’s Indian team of 1983 did the unimaginable, dared to do the impossible, showed to the cricketing world that India is a force to reckon with and inspired several generation of Indian cricketers. Offering his perspective of ``Four Decades of World Cup’’ at the Legends Club’s birth centenary of Capt. Vijay Samuel Hazare at the C.K. Nayudu Hall, Cricket Club of India on Wednesday, Raman also said the future World Cups will throw up names who are not heard on a regular basis. ``We are seeing a lot of good cricket played by the associate nations and full member nations (of the ICC) are fighting hard. This is the start of us having to see unknown names. The World Cup offers a platform for them,’’ said Raman.
In the course of his decade-by-decade analysis of the quadrennial limited over tournament, Raman said that the 1970s saw the players from the Caribbean countries, individually and collectively, playing for the pride of their race in the 1970s. ``The 1980s turned out to be inspiration for India and resurgence for Australia, the 1990s proved to great boost for countries going through rough times (Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and then Australians hit the straps and dominated before M.S.Dhoni made his presence felt by playing a match-winning knock in the final. But as the celebrations began, Dhoni was like a poor relative standing in a corner at a wedding,’’ said Raman.
Raman, who has coached Bengal and is part of the coaching staff of IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders said that the four decades threw four different dimensions, most notable being innovations taking place with games played in coloured clothing and under lights, standard playing conditions being introduced, South Africa’s return to mainstream cricket and security and anti-corruption measures put in place. `` Well, Wasim Akram demonstrated (in 1992) in the final that he could reverse swing with the white ball and under lights. The entire Pakistan squad would individually and collectively would vouch even today that they were getting nowhere; only captain Imran Khan had faith in his team. Similarly in 1996 Sri Lanka had a fearless leader in Arjuna Ranatunga and Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaliuwitharana redefined batting.’’
Another aspect Raman touched upon was how Bobby Simpson turned things around for transition-in-team Australia in 1987. ``Simpson was instrumental; Allan Border tried to be competitive and kept improving in every match. Funnily there was a disciplinary code that prevented the Australian cricketers from consuming drinks or beer for 48 hours before a match. Can anyone think of Australians doing this?”
Talking about Capt. Hazare, the former India left hander said his statistics are phenomenal and that he would have been a success across all formats. The Legends Club President Madhav Apte said: ``When one talks of Indian cricket, Capt. Hazare has to feature prominently.’’Mr. Apte presented two books -- How to Play cricket by Don Bradman and Cricket World Cup Cricket, Statistical Records by Gangaram Sapkal – to the chief guest.
The winners of a quiz conducted by commentator Milind Wagle on Capt. Hazare and World Cup were: Amol Karhadkar, Saurabh Somani, Dileep. V, Manuja Veerappa, Harsh Kothari, Salil Lele and Devendra Prabhudesai.
