18 July,2014 07:20 AM IST | | Debasish Datta
Former India captain believes that the pitch on offer for the ongoing India-England Test is similar to the one the visitors played the West Indies on, in the final of the 1983 World Cup
Kapil Dev
London: Former India captain Kapil Dev is flooded with memories every time he visits Lord's, the venue that witnessed some of his career's finest performances.
Kapil Dev
Kapil is here as a commentator and believes the pitch that is on offer for the ongoing India-England Test is similar to the one the visitors played the West Indies on, in the final of the 1983 World Cup.
"When I saw the wicket today, I was reminded of the 1983 final. We played on a similar track," he told mid-day.
Champagne from Lloyd
Kapil then relived some moments of the historic encounter that is rated amongst the finest in India's cricketing history.
"No one expected us to win that game. There was silence in the dressing room ahead of the game. Even the officials here were confident that West Indies would win. So they placed the champagne bottles in their dressing room.
"After the game I went over and when I saw the bottles, I requested Clive Lloyd if we could have them. He agreed and so we took the bottles to celebrate."
Kapil Dev also led the side when India won the Test here in 1986 and is very proud of that achievement. For the record, that is India's only Test win at Lord's till date.
However, he regrets the fact that India could not save the Test here in 1990, despite the four sixes he hit off, off-spinner Eddie Hemmings, to save the follow-on. Kapil said he still thinks of that game and is saddened that he could not help India avert the defeat.
