We never thought of winning 1983 WC when we left India: Srikkanth

Former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth says India never thought of winning the 1983 World Cup and that's why his flight was booked from Bombay to New York with just a stopover in London.

Srikkanth, who was an integral part of the 1983 World Cup winning team, said captain Kapil Dev's self belief also rubbed on other players and that was one of the reasons for the historic triumph.

India beat the mighty West Indies in the final at the Lord's to win their maiden World Cup in 1983.

"When we left the shores of India in 1983 we never expected to be world champions. In fact my flight was from Bombay to New York with just a stopover in London for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup," Srikkanth was quoted as saying by the ICC media.

"That was because in the first two World Cups the only team we had beaten was East Africa, we even lost to Sri Lanka who were not yet a Test team."

The former dashing opener said captain Kapil made the difference in the World Cup with his self-belief which was not ...