1983 World Cup win changed India’s sporting destiny: Malini Parthasarathy

The Hindu Chairperson Dr. Malini Parthasarathy and 1983 cricket World Cup winners during the Sportstar Aces award, on February 27, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

Dr. Malini Parthasarathy, Chairperson of  The Hindu Group of Publications (Pvt. Ltd.), stated that India’s famous triumph in the 1983 Cricket World Cup powered the collective self-esteem of the nation.

In the 40th year of the famous victory, Kapil Dev and members of his team were honoured at the  Sportstar Aces Awards 2023 here on Monday.

“India won a subsequent Cricket World Cup in 2011, but 1983 remains etched on all our minds and hearts. Why so? Because it was the first time that an Indian team actually tasted the sweet taste of being the World No. 1. That also powered our collective self esteem, and gave us real self confidence that India could be a major player in the big game and we are on the road to becoming a major sporting power,” Dr. Parthasarathy said.

“That win changed India’s sporting destiny and our national life forever. We had been defeatist till then as a country, diffident about our sporting capability and timid in our approaches in the global arena. When Kapil Dev and his team of greats won, the entire cricket world was stunned and in disbelief,” Dr. Parthasarathy said.

“The enduring image of Kapil Dev hoisting the World Cup in Lords’ balcony has been etched on a country’s mind forever, as it has allowed countless great cricketers to dream and to see their dreams manifest into great world records. A new generation of cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli have been inspired by this epic victory,” Dr. Parthasarathy said.