From captain’s catches to unlikely heroes – India's Women's World Cup triumph and the parallels with 1983

India's Women's World Cup triumph and the parallels with 1983 (BCCI/ICC Photos)

Before 1983, India’s men’s cricket team had enjoyed its best year in 1971 when they journeyed to the Caribbean, beat West Indies and then went to England and beat what was then the best team in the world. But after that, the highs were far fewer than the lows though India continued to register some good results at home. The frequent disasters overseas were exemplified by the 42 all-out at Lord’s in 1974.

As for the World Cup, they were the laughing stock. In the very first game in 1975, Sunil Gavaskar carried his bat for 36 not-out in 60 overs against England. And in 1979, India lost Sri Lanka who weren’t even a Test-playing nation at the time. So, when it came to 1983, they were rank outsiders with a captain that few rated and a squad that were given next to no chance of troubling the main contenders.

Also Read | The Amol Muzumdar story — From India heartbreak to Women's World Cup triumph

But as with the women in 2025, the men in 1983 had a secret weapon. Mohinder Amarnath was considered by many to be past his prime and not worth a place in the team just months earlier. He chipped in with a vital 26 and took 3 for 12 in the final. Decades later, Shafali Verma – at the other end of the age spectrum – would come in from the cold because of Pratika Rawal’s injury and score 87 before taking two crucial markets at a time when South Africa seemed to be wresting control of the chase.

But the parallels don’t end there. In 1983, it was a miraculous catch that turned the match India’s way, with Kapil Dev running back from mid-wicket to take a spellbinding grab off the peerless Viv Richards. And 42 years later, it was Amanjot Kaur who ran in from the long-on rope, got hands to the ball, juggled with it and somehow held on with one hand to send back centurion Laura Wolvaardt, who had kept South Africa’s fight going for as long as she could.

Also Read | Year of sporting firsts: Harmanpreet Kaur-led India keep 2025 trend intact with Women’s World Cup victory

That was the moment that millions of Indians sensed that they had one hand on the trophy. In the 1983 final, Kapil is primarily remembered for that catch, with his individual performance not coming close to the remarkable 175 not out against Zimbabwe earlier in the tournament. Similarly, Harmanpreet Kaur didn’t shine with the bat yesterday but her bowling changes – especially the decision to bring on Shafali as a partnership breaker – and the stupendous catch to get rid of the dangerous Nadine de Klerk and clinch the trophy will never be forgotten.

It was 1983 that gave Indian men’s cricket a real voice on the world stage, and there’s little doubt that 2025 will be a similar watershed moment for the women.