'Used to get only 15 pounds a day, so it was very big' - Kirti Azad recalls how Manchester crowd filled his pockets during 1983 WC

Former India cricketer Kirti Azad has revealed that the incidents shown in the Ranveer Singh-starrer sports drama ’83 are completely true. A trailer of the much-awaited movie, interestingly, shows the team members waiting for their skipper Kapil Dev to come out of the shower, while India was playing Zimbabwe during the multi-team event.

Azad, who was a part of the 1983 World Cup-winning unit, went on to give a few details of Kapil Dev’s shower incident, which many labelled as an exaggeration after watching the trailer of the movie, which is set to hit the theatres on December 24.

“It is true that Kapil had gone for a leisurely bath, but when 4 wickets got out in no time, we all frenetically went outside his bathroom and informed him. After that, he went to bat. I think he was angry as well as in surprise at how all the people got out so quickly. We all know what happened after that. He played such an innings which is considered one of the best innings in history,” Azad was quoted by the Quint.

Notably, the Indian skipper went on to notch one of the most iconic World Cup knocks – unbeaten 175 – in the same fixture. As fate would have it, the team billed as underdogs throughout the tournament, lifted the title by defeating West Indies in the final to register India’s maiden triumph. Azad revealed how even the team members were not sure of their capabilities, but were inspired by their leader Kapil Dev.

“Only Kapil was in the view that India can win the World Cup. And that belief I think worked against Zimbabwe when he hammered 175 not out. After that match the others too started thinking like Kapil,” the cricketer-turned-politician said.

Crowd broke in and most of them gave 5-10 pounds in my pockets: Kirti Azad

Asked about the most memorable moment for him in the tournament, Azad said he enjoyed dismissing English batter Ian Botham in the semi-final the most.

“Botham was one of the most dangerous players in the England side. He was playing in his home ground Manchester. So, everything was against us. Pitch was playing slow, and England were, I think pretty well, perhaps 96 for 2, when Kapil brought me and Mohinder into the attack.

“Kapil told both of us, ‘look, the wicket is slow, so curb your speed and it would be very difficult for England batsmen to make runs’. We did the same thing and England were literally choked. We bowled 24 overs in a trot, gave only 55 odd runs and got 4 wickets including Botham,” he said.

Unlike the modern-day, when the Indian cricket board has grown to unmatchable heights, back in 1983, the situation was entirely different, with neither the board nor the players being financially sound. So, getting tokens of appreciation in form of British pounds by the Manchester crowd was certainly “very big”, Azad revealed.

“When Botham was out, crowd broke in and most of them gave 5 pounds and 10 pounds in my pockets as a token of appreciation. At that time, we were given only 15 pounds from the BCCI for a day. So, getting more than 200 pounds was something very big for me. It is something I will not forget in my life,” he said.