From reluctance to gusto: tracing India’s limited-overs evolution Premium

India's evolution in limited-overs cricket, from hesitant beginnings to ICC glory, showcases a rich history of success and growth.

Grown men wiping tears, losing themselves in bearhugs, laughing with abandon and a captain pinching a little soil from the pitch and tasting it: these were all images that leapt across from Bridgetown in Barbados last Saturday. India had again won an ICC title, the T20 World Cup at that, to end the long drought that began after the 2013 Champions Trophy victory in England.

Rohit Sharma’s men remained unbeaten in the championship and importantly held their nerve when South Africa threatened to pocket the match while chasing India’s 176 for seven. A seven-run win was snatched and India had another piece of ICC silverware in its cupboard, which now features the 1983 and 2011 World Cups, the 2002 and 2013 Champions Trophy titles, and the 2007 and 2024 T20 crowns. We are talking intercontinental tournaments here and not Asia Cups and other similar events.

While Rohit, Virat Kohli, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Arshdeep Singh all played their parts in the summit clash, be it through leadership, batting, bowling or fielding, it is also time to record the manner in which India has evolved in limited-overs cricket over the last five decades. Often coy to embrace any new development in the willow game, India would hesitate at the start, take its time and then suddenly woo that same format with the ardour of a college kid in the throes of first-love excitement.

When ODIs first surfaced and that too the 60-over-per-side version, India took its time in the World Cups, so much so that across the 1975 and 1979 editions, the only triumph was secured against East Africa, a team which no longer exists. Back then, India was the land of the twirly men, as spinners of the calibre of Bishan Singh Bedi ruled the roost. Seamers were there to help the red cherry lose its shine before the quartet ambled in with their slow-art and secured great wins in Tests.

The ambivalence towards ODIs was evident in India’s first ever World Cup game. During the inaugural 1975 edition, chasing host England’s 334 for four, India finished with 132 for three, with Sunil Gavaskar remaining unbeaten on a 174-ball 36. To be fair to the great opener, he had gone on record saying it was a frustrating phase and he tried to get dismissed but to no avail.

Cut to 1983, India was clued in to the instant thrills permeating ODIs. Kapil Dev led an exuberant bunch and on June 25, the World Cup was won while the mighty West Indians were humbled. This was a classic David quelling Goliath episode, and from that moment, ODIs were embraced with gusto. All the theoretical embellishments that later became part of cricket’s limited-overs discourse were seemingly ushered in by India even before those terms came into vogue.

Think pinch-hitter then go no further than K. Srikkanth; think bits-and-pieces then rest on Roger Binny, Kirti Azad and Madan Lal; think all-rounder then anoint Kapil upon that mighty throne; think smart batting then you have Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohinder Amarnath and Sandeep Patil to revel in. The cogs were in place, to this add the right attitude and sharp fielding, and India was bound to prosper.