West Indies & the art of winning World Cups!!!!!

If not for that brilliant catch from Kapil Dev in the 1983 World Cup Final at Lord’s; we wouldn’t have seen a new Champion until the first 3 editions of the ODI World Cup.

 

Somehow, I’m always fascinated by the West Indies cricket team & the art of winning World Cups, especially in this era with T20s. They did leave a template for other teams to follow in ODIs, set the tone & then phased out in the 90’s. I still remember the later World Cups of that decade in 1996 & 1999 WI was up to a great fight in both of them; however an always-spirited Australia ended their campaign in Mohali & NZ pipped them out of super 6s due to superior NRR in 1999.

 

However, fast-forward to the T20 World Cups & West Indies has always been a force to reckon. Winning in Colombo, 2012 & Kolkatta, 2016 proved that they again became the 1st team to win 2 editions in the same format. They set the template, they set the tone. It won’t be surprising if they do make it to finals in the 2024 edition as well. This is a home World Cup for them, the atmosphere, the vibe everything seems to push WI for a 3rd title. The way the team is supported was evident in the match against NZ at Trinidad. They rose from the ashes when they were almost done & dusted to score a respectable total to defend. Thanks to Rutherford – it was his innings of lifetime.

 

Now, there is no looking back for them. Been watching many experts over the past few weeks – but none of them has West Indies as their potential semi-finalists except for a few. Everyone has been always talking about the Big 4 – India, Australia, England & South Africa. But, I won’t be surprised if there could be a potential semi-final between India & West Indies at Guyana or even a final at Barbados on 29th June 2024.

 

India doesn’t have a strong football team, however, in a nation of 1.5 Billion people, there has always been a 2nd favorite team to win the FIFA World Cups. Divide our country into many parts & you will see immense support for Portugal in GOA, France in Puducherry, Brazil in Kerala & Argentina in West Bengal with all the young generations divided between England & few other European teams as they see them daily in the various leagues across the region.

 

The same goes for cricket – I don’t think apart from West Indies or up to some extent sympathy for South Africa – Indians would like to believe that anyone else is their 2nd favorite team.

 

It was heartening to see West Indies earlier in the year to defeat Australia in their so-called “fortress” in Brisbane. It sparked a fire that has long been extinguished in Test Cricket for West Indies. But such moments of brilliance are very seldom for West Indies test cricket, but the same can’t be assumed for T20s – they were, are & always will be the force & have the potential to win any T20 World Cup come what may. Dismiss them at your peril!!!!

 

For me, it's always been if not India – then West Indies.

 

-     Madhur Kapoor (Cricket Enthusiast)

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