"It Was Like A Hard Slap": Balwinder Sandhu Recalls Being Hit On Helmet By Malcolm Marshall In 1983 WC Final

Being No.11 for a side can be a hard task, ask Balwinder Sandhu about his experience in the 1983 World Cup final against the West Indies. West Indies were the side to beat in the 1983 World Cup. Opting to field, the world beaters had a morale victory at the toss. India managed to score 183 runs as they were bundled out in 54.4 overs.

Sir Andy Roberts picking up a three-wicket haul while Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding returned two wickets each. Kris Srikkanth top scored for India with 38 runs while Sandeep Patil (27) and Mohinder Amarnath (26) playing some important cameos.

Balwinder Sandhu: It was like somebody had given me a hard slap

As wickets began to tremble from one end, Balwinder Sandhu tried to hold the fort for India, as he remained unbeaten on 11 runs off 30 balls. He also took a nasty blow from Malcolm Marshall which he describes as a hard slap and he could feel that his ears had become hot.

“It was like somebody had given me a hard slap. All I could feel was that my ears had become hot and that there was this whistling sound in my left ear. But I also knew one more thing – I had to show them I was feeling no pain,” Sandhu was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“The moral victory had to be mine. I did not even rub the area that was hurting, I turned and faced Marshall as if nothing had happened,” he added.

The chase for the World Cup, however, looked like a daunting task for the Clive Lloyd-led side. West Indies lost their openers early with Vivian Richards holding the fort for the side with a 33-run knock. However, Madan Lal, Roger Binny and Mohinder Amarnath ran through the West Indies top to lower order, to help India record history.