NEW DELHI: India had used as many as six bowlers against hosts England in the first-ever match of inaugural ODI World Cup, officially known as the Prudential Cup, at Lord’s, London on June 7, 1975.
India’s famed bowling line-up included the likes of Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Syed Abid Ali, Karsan Ghavri, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Eknath Solkar. However, it was Madan Lal who earned the distinction of delivering the first ball for India in this ground-breaking tournament.
The tournament featured 60-over matches, and Madan Lal etched his name in the history books by bowling the first ball of the World Cup to England opener Dennis Amiss.
Madan Lal, known for his accuracy and ability to swing the ball both ways, played a crucial role in India’s bowling attack during the early years of limited-overs cricket.
Despite his disciplined bowling, the match against England turned out to be a challenging one for India. England, led by Dennis Amiss’s 137, posted a mammoth total of 334 for 4 in their 60 overs, a formidable target by the standards of that era.
In response, India managed only 132 for 3, losing the match by 202 runs, with Sunil Gavaskar famously playing a defensive innings of 36 runs off 174 balls that inculded a lone boundary.
Although India did not win their opening match and eventually exited the tournament in the group stage, Madan Lal’s role as the bowler who delivered the first ball of India’s World Cup history is a notable achievement.
His contributions to Indian cricket, particularly in the ODI format, extended beyond this moment, as he was also a key member of the Indian team that won the 1983 World Cup.
India’s famed bowling line-up included the likes of Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Syed Abid Ali, Karsan Ghavri, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Eknath Solkar. However, it was Madan Lal who earned the distinction of delivering the first ball for India in this ground-breaking tournament.
The tournament featured 60-over matches, and Madan Lal etched his name in the history books by bowling the first ball of the World Cup to England opener Dennis Amiss.
Madan Lal, known for his accuracy and ability to swing the ball both ways, played a crucial role in India’s bowling attack during the early years of limited-overs cricket.
Despite his disciplined bowling, the match against England turned out to be a challenging one for India. England, led by Dennis Amiss’s 137, posted a mammoth total of 334 for 4 in their 60 overs, a formidable target by the standards of that era.
In response, India managed only 132 for 3, losing the match by 202 runs, with Sunil Gavaskar famously playing a defensive innings of 36 runs off 174 balls that inculded a lone boundary.
Although India did not win their opening match and eventually exited the tournament in the group stage, Madan Lal’s role as the bowler who delivered the first ball of India’s World Cup history is a notable achievement.
His contributions to Indian cricket, particularly in the ODI format, extended beyond this moment, as he was also a key member of the Indian team that won the 1983 World Cup.
Source Agencies
