On this day – Birth of India’s maiden World Cup winner

Former India cricketer Balwinder Singh Sandhu turns 64 today. He was known to swing the new ball both ways in both Tests and ODIs during his career. He was also a part of India’s 1983 World Cup triumph under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, which revolutionized Indian cricket in the years to come.

Despite playing a crucial role in India’s WC victory in 1983, it is very surprising to see that Sandhu didn’t play much for India. His international career lasted for only a couple of years, but it was filled with action. The medium-fast bowler played 8 Tests and 22 ODIs for his country picking 10 and 16 wickets, respectively.

He was also a handy lower-order batsman and averaged 30.57 in the longer format with two half-centuries to his name. Rather one of those fifties had come in his debut innings itself when he scored 71 runs against Pakistan in Hyderabad (Sind). It remained the best score of his Test career. When it came to the 50-over format, Sandhu was more of a containing bowler and didn’t get to bat much.

World Cup final heroics

One of Sandhu’s best cricketing memories is the delivery that he bowled to Sir Gordon Greenidge in the 1983 World Cup final. After getting bundled out for just 183, India needed early wickets to have any chance to restrict the power-packed West Indies. It was Sandhu who drew first blood with a brilliant ball.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BALWINDER SINGH SANDHU ????
India’s 1983 World Cup Final Hero
He used to open bowling with @kapil
In 8 Test matches he played he had SR of 113.2 ???
In 1983 Final he was got hit by a bouncer by Malcolm Marshall
He got the wicket of Gorden in opening spell pic.twitter.com/B9kI8fqhry

— Harsh ?? (@HBJ3221) August 3, 2020

Greenidge shouldered arms to a ball coming in sharply, and it aptly disturbed his stumps. The delivery is talked about fondly even today. He returned with the figures of 2/32 from his nine overs in the final as India scripted history. Unfortunately, Balwinder didn’t play much after the mega event despite his brilliant performance in the tournament, where he picked eight wickets in as many matches.

His last appearance for India came in January 1984 against Pakistan, an ODI abandoned after the visitors batted for 40 overs.