1983 World Cup victory helped Indian cricket turn into something fundamentally different: Clive Lloyd

Clive Lloyd former Captain, West Indies. (Photo by Virendra Singh Gosain/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Former West Indies skipper Clive Llyod, who was on the losing side of the 1983 World Cup final, provided a rather unique take on team India’s triumph. The legendary Caribbean cricketer stated that team India’s win essentially transformed their cricket into “something fundamentally different”.

He further highlighted that the sport too benefited immensely from India’s historic win. Notably, 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of team India clinching their first ODI World Cup title against the mighty West Indies.

“Bowling India out for 183 was a very good effort, and on most days, we would easily chase this score down. But for cricket, however, it was a great result. It helped Indian cricket turn into something fundamentally different and world cricket, too, benefitted from this turnaround,” Llyod told Boria Majumdar on his show ‘Backstage with Boria’.

The Windies great further stated that despite emerging victorious towards the latter half of 1983, his side knew that team India would eventually assert their dominance in world cricket.

“Even when we beat the Indians convincingly in the winter of 1983, we knew that it was only a matter of time before they became a cricketing superpower. The self-belief the World Cup victory had given Indian cricket had little parallel. It was great for your cricket,” he added.

Just a matter of time India wins a big tournament: Clive Llyod

Llyod also highlighted India’s 10-year trophy drought in the ICC events will come to an end soon, as he believed that it is only a matter of time before the Men in Blue once again reign supreme in world cricket.

“But you’re getting there. You’ve got to semi-finals and finals and so on. You’ve qualified for multiple finals. I think the future could be very good for India because now, because of the IPL. There is every reason to believe you will have a very good 50-overs side. You’ve got a terrific Test side, and it’s just a matter of time before you win a big tournament. Things go in cycles, and it will work in the future, I’m sure,” said Lloyd.