Which was the first team to beat the West Indies in the World Cup? (29 June 2001)

By 1983, the West Indies were the unquestioned masters in the one day game. With their free stroking batsmen and quartet of fearsome fast bowlers, they ran roughshod over all opposition. That year it did seem futile to look beyond them as winners of the World Cup which they had lifted on the two previous occasions the competition had been held. Indeed, they had won all their nine matches they had played in the tournament so far.

And yet, West Indies went down to a shocking loss in the first match of the 1983 World Cup. Even more unbelievably, the defeat was inflicted by rank outsiders India, who had won just one of the six matches they had played in two previous competitions, and that against lowly East Africa in 1975. A splendid 89 by Yashpal Sharma, later to be adjudged man of the match, helped the Indians to post a challenging total of 262 for eight in 60 overs. The West Indies lost wickets steadily and were tottering at 157 for nine. A last wicket partnership of 71 runs between Andy Roberts and Joel Garner gave the Indians some hiccups. But at 228, Garner was out for 37. Roberts remained unbeaten with 37 but the honours were with the Indians who had pulled off an upset that almost ranked with Zimbabwe's stunning victory over Australia the previous day. There were of course to be more surprises in the tournament as a resurgent Indian team went on to win the World Cup with the ultimate triumph over the West Indies in the final at Lord's. But the victory at Old Trafford will always have a niche in World Cup history.

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