Watching 1983 World Cup Cricket :1983 World Cup Cricket – When i was in Khariar Road that time the TV evolution started and hardly few people used to have TV sets. That time only the Doordarshan used to be there and then Zee Channel was there. If i remember correct Zee TV was first private channel. I used to stay in Kharavela Nagar ith Ross (Ross Hardy) who was an Australian and very friendly. A cook Bheema used to come and cook for us. At that time i had litte knowledge of cricket as during my college days, at times we used to listen to radio commentary. The radio commentary was so interesting as they used to narrate ball by ball and it was very interesting to listen compared to TV commentary.
Ross and I used to work for an organisation in Khriar Road, and the office was very close to Shiv mandhir and Jonk river. In the evening hours we used to go to Mandir and also towards the Jonk river and spend some time there before coming back to my house.
In Australia they love cricket like England. India that time was not in the reckon as West Indies, England and Australia dominated the cricket that time.
When India reached finals beating England, it was a great pleasant surprise. Everyone was betting on West Indies as that time the great Lloyds,Greenidges,Heynes,Richard, Marshal,Andy Robert and so many great and strong players there and also West Indies already won few times the world cup.
The final day, Ross came from office and asked me if I am interested to watch match. As I mentioned earlier, there were few TV sets mainly in big hotels and business places. I immediately said OK and we both went to a hotel if i remember correct, it was Pantha Nivas in Lewis Road.
From the beginning of the match it was so interesting particularly watching the match in big crowed feel very interesting as even if we lose wickets one will share with others there so when India scored 183 runs everyone thought it was a cakewalk for West Indies. It was not to be – with underdogs tag, we could win the match and lifted the world cup. There so much joy and crackers around. Everywhere on the road, people were shouting and enjoying the midnight Indian victory. This was a memorable event.