The spirit of 1983 lingers. Forty years after Kapil Dev and his boys won the World Cup at Lord’s, people still wish to celebrate it. In New Delhi this week, the Hyatt Regency hotel invited the “Class Of 1983” for a dinner, and the senior staff got a chance to interact with them.
“This was not a PR exercise,” said Sunil Valson to RevSportz in an exclusive interview. “When we won the World cup and came to New Delhi, the same hotel had hosted us. This was a chance to take a trip down memory lane and relive the moments.”
Valson has been asked hundreds of times how it felt to be a member of that squad who didn’t get a game, but he does not mind that. Yet, when draw into a chat, it was sheer nostalgia for him, and others like Kapil Dev and Madan Lal. “Cheeka (K Srikkanth) and Sandy (Sandeep Patil) did not come, but the rest of us who were present shared our thoughts with a select audience,” said Valson.
As a pace bowler who had to sit on the sidelines during that English summer in 1983, Valson had been associated with the Delhi Daredevils in the initial years of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He knows his cricket well, but does not get into radio and TV shows. “I have had my innings, including being an advisor in the technical committee of the DDCA till last year,” he said. “Unless things move on, there is no point in continuing in such committees.”
He is following the World Cup closely and is excited about India’s performance. “I think there can be no comparison between 1983 and now,” said Valson. “That was 60 overs with a red ball and now you have 50 overs, two balls in use and a longer format. Of course, in 1983, there was hardly any gap between matches. So, to make changes in the team was not done unless necessary.”
Even though R Ashwin, perhaps one of the greatest bowlers India has produced, has played one match in this World Cup, Valson is one of those who understands his predicament, as he sits on the bench watching his teammates win one game after another. “I know that Ashwin is truly world class,” said Valson. “When you have a team playing top-class cricket, why will you make changes? On these wickets, Ashwin would have been very effective, but all the bowlers in view till now for India have been exceptional. Once Hardik (Pandya) went out, Shami has been sensational.”
Does the batting impress him? “The settled look is so good, there is no need to tinker at all,” he said. “I think, early on, when Shubman Gill was recovering, there was some worry. With gaps between matches now, I think India is doing the right thing by playing the same combination.”
Asked about the longer schedule and the exhausting travel, Valson was effusive in praise for the team. “Travelling in England is much easier, which was the case in 1983,” he said. “This team has travelled exhaustively in India, coped with different conditions in different cities. You have to appreciate that. The heat and humidity in Chennai and Mumbai are killing, very different when compared with Dharamsala. This speaks a lot about the fitness of players.”
From his own experience, does he feel bad for Ashwin? “I think the big picture is India is doing well and so millions are wishing the team wins the World Cup,” said Valson. “The next few league matches may not generate the same interest as the semi-finals are now lined up. Back to your question…Ashwin, as a senior pro, understands the team dynamics. My best wishes to the team.”