It is the most famous total in Indian cricket history. On 25 June 1983 a battery of medium-pacers led by Kapil Dev defended 183 against West Indies in the World Cup final at Lord’s, a victory that was the catalyst for the many events that have since made India the game’s commercial behemoth.
More than three decades later, it was 183 that India needed to beat West Indies and strengthen their grip on top spot in their World Cup group. They did not have to contend with Andy Roberts, Joel Garner, Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding but, on a quick and bouncy Waca surface, Jerome Taylor and his compatriots gave India an almighty scare before MS Dhoni – who else? – saw his team home with a measured unbeaten 45.
These two teams had met only once before in Perth, in November 1991, when an 18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar took the final wicket with hooping inswing as India tied the game after scoring only 126. At one stage on Friday afternoon, it had seemed West Indies would not even get to that total. When Darren Sammy edged Mohammed Shami, man of the match for his three for 35, behind after adding 39 with Jason Holder, they were 124 for eight in the 36th over.
Acute embarrassment was avoided thanks to Holder, who followed a defiant half-century against South Africa with a 64-ball 57 that included three crisp strikes down the ground. Holder, who has handled the poisoned chalice with great maturity, spoke afterwards how the batsmen had not played themselves in well enough, an understatement when you go through the gallery of grotesque strokes that was the batting highlights reel.
To focus on West Indies’ shortcomings, however, would be unfair to India’s bowlers, who were superb for a fourth straight game. In the past, they have come to venues such as Perth and got carried away. This time, Shami and Umesh Yadav, in particular, were exceptional with the new ball, pinning back the batsmen with back-of-a-length bowling at high pace.
The scorecard may suggest this was a thriller along Eden Park lines, but as long as Dhoni was out there India were prohibitive favourites. He had scored only 106 in his previous five ODI innings, but even after India slumped to 134 for six, there was no sign of him being flustered. An upper-cut six tilted the game India’s way, and Holder’s ploy of turning to Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith in the final five overs allowed India to cruise home.
Taylor, easily the pick of the bowlers, finished his eighth over when India still needed 45 to win. He never bowled again, with Holder saying that he and Kemar Roach had nothing left to give.
Though they won with all of 65 balls to spare, there were enough testing passages for the India batsmen on a pitch far livelier than any they are likely to encounter in the rest of the tournament. Taylor had both Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma edging behind, and Suresh Raina, whose skittishness against the short ball was defended spiritedly by Dhoni after the game, also chased one outside off stump.
Virat Kohli struck some peachy shots through midwicket, but was then undone by the pull, the same stroke that cost Ravindra Jadeja his wicket. In Jadeja’s case, it earned him a rare public rebuke from his captain, who said that he would “need to step up” in future games.
India will now hop on a plane to Melbourne and head to Auckland before driving to Hamilton, where they face Ireland on Tuesday. Unless the Irish or Zimbabwe, who play them in Auckland, can pull off a huge upset, they will top the group. England or Bangladesh would then be the likely quarter-final opponents. On this evidence, both should be very afraid.
