Cricket World Cup 2019: Will Virat Kohli recreate Kapil's magic of 1983 at Lord's after 36 years?

 | Updated: May 30, 2019, 12:09 PM IST

Here's a comparison of current India's squad with Kapil Dev's side of 1983 World Cup

world cup 2019-india

The glorious memories of Kapil Dev lifting the Prudential Cup at Lord's stadium in 1983 are still fresh in the minds of many cricket enthusiasts when Team India, fighting all the odds, emerged as the champions. 

In 2011, India again clinched the coveted World Cup trophy when MS Dhoni-led team defeated Sri Lanka in final at Mumbai's Wankhede. 

Now, again the Virat Kohli-led team will look to repeat Kapil Dev's feat in the twelfth edition of World Cup, which is hosted by England and Wales.

Indian fans will hope that Men in Blue lift the trophy at Lord's, the 'Home of Cricket'.

Will Virat Kolhi-led team reach the final and recreate the Kapil's magic again?

Here's a comparison of current India's squad with Kapil Dev's side of 1983 World Cup: 

(Photograph:Reuters)

Sunil Gavaskar | Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the number one One-Day International player, will lead India's squad in the upcoming World Cup. In ODI format, Virat has scored 227 matches so far and scored 10843 runs. 

Virat can be compared to Sunil Gavaskar of 1983. 

In 1983 WC, Gavaskar scored only 59 with an average of just 9.83 in six matches with the highest score of 25. However, these 25 runs came at the most suitable moment. These runs were scored in the semi-final when the team had to score 214 to win the match. 

Gavaskar scored 25 runs to give a strong foundation as India reached the final by winning the game by six wickets. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Srikkanth

Srikkanth opened India's innings with Sunil Gavaskar in the tournament and emerged as one of India's key men in the World Cup. 

The current opener Shikhar Dhawan can be compared to Srikkanth as both are known for their aggressive batting styles. 

Srikkanth top-scored for India in the final against West Indies making 38 runs and overall, he scored 156 runs in the tournament. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Sandeep Patil | Rohit Sharma

The opener of the current Indian team Rohit Sharma can be compared to the Sandeep Patil, the middle-order batsmen of Indian squad of World Cup 1983. 

Sandeep Patil scored 216 runs in eight matches in the 1983 World Cup including an unbeaten 51 in the semi-final against England. 

It is expected that Rohit Sharma will provide stability to the Indian innings with responsible knocks in World Cup 2019.  

(Photograph:AFP)
;

Mohinder Amarnath | Vijay Shankar

Mohinder Amarnath, Man of the Match in the finals and semi-finals of the World Cup, was a vital cog of India's squad. 

In the current squad, Vijay Shankar is expected to play a similar role, which is to provide stability to the top order and give strength to the bowling unit. 

Although Shankar's addition to the playing XI is a little bit dicey as at the moment KL Rahul is also an option available with the skipper. 

Amarnath scored 237 runs in the tournament and the medium pacer also took three wickets giving just 12 runs in the final against the West Indies. 

Amarnath gave stability to the top order and also was the most economical bowler for India. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Yashpal Sharma-KL Rahul

With his recent performances, KL Rahul emerged as a player to watch out for in the Indian squad. 

He can be compared to Yashpal Sharma, who scored 240 runs at the tournament at an average of 34.28. 

Yashpal Sharma played at number fourth spot in the final match against West Indies in the 1983 final and KL Rahul is also expected to fill the same spot. 

In the semi-final against England, Yashpal top scored with 61 runs, helping India advance to the finals. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Syed Kirmani | MS Dhoni

Syed Kirmani won the award for the best wicket keeper in the 1983 Cricket World Cup and MS Dhoni is expected to do the same. 

Kirmani along with Kapil Dev put up a partnership of 126 runs for the ninth wicket against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup with Kirmani contributing 26, which proved critical in India being able to continue their run in the tournament. 

Dhoni has impressed with his extraordinary glove-work and has always guided the bowlers with accurate decisions behind the stumps. 

With just the presence of this power-hitter, Indian Virat Kohli will get the required support in making strategies and setting fields for the bowlers while keeping from behind the stumps. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Kapil Dev | Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is often compared to the World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev and it is expected of Pandya to play similar kind of role in the World Cup 2019. 

While Hardik refuted the comparisons, saying, "Let me be Hardik Pandya."

He once said, "Let me be Hardik Pandya, I am good at being Hardik Pandya, I played 41 ODIs and 10 Tests being Hardik Pandya, not Kapil Dev." 

In 1983 World Cup, Kapil Dev was the fifth highest run-getter with an aggregate of 303 runs in the tournament. 

He made an unbeaten 175 runs against  Zimbabwe which is referred to as one of the greatest knocks in history. 

The Indian captain also took 12 wickets in the World Cup, proving his all-around abilities. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Kirti Azad | Ravindra Jadeja

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was picked in India's squad keeping his experience and the English conditions in mind. 

He is expected to provide an all-round performance to the team in the World Cup 2019. 

Kirti Azad played three matches in the World Cup and out of those, he scored 15 runs in one of the matches, scoring no runs in the other two. 

Both Jadeja and Azad were aggressive batsmen provided off-spin option. 

Talking about the spin unit, India also have two brilliant spinners, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Roger Binny | Jasprit Bumrah

Roger Binny of 1983 and Jasprit Bumrah of 2019, the comprision can be drawn on the basis of their quality bowling and wicket taking abilities. 

In 1983, Binny was the highest wicket-taker as he took 18 wickets in eight matches with an economy rate of just 3.81. 

He was India's prime bowler, who held up one end of the bowling attack successfully in the tournament. 

Bumrah, the death over specialist, will play a very important role for his team in the entire tournament. He is the number ODI bowler as per the ICC ranking. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Madan Lal | Mohammed Shami

Pacer Mohammed Shami in 2019 can be Madan Lal of 1893. 

Madan Lal was the second highest wicket-taker for India after Roger Binny, taking 17 wickets in the tournament. 

He took three crucial wickets in the final against West Indies and overall scored 102 runs in the tournament. 

Shami is an important player in the Indian squad and might prove crucial if the conditions favour him. 

(Photograph:AFP)

Balwinder Sandhu Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India's star pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to do a similar role as of Balwinder Sandhu. 

Just like Sandhu, Bhuvi, who is a reliable option for team India in the death overs, can swing the ball. 

Bhuvi's experience with the ball is splendid and will help the entire bowling unit in a pressure situation. 

Sandhu had taken eight wickets in the World Cup tournament. 

In the final match, batting at number 11, Sandhu amassed 22 runs with Syed Kirmani and also took two wickets.  

(Photograph:AFP)