I Had The Best Seat In The House To Watch Him Bat: Narendra Hirwani Recalls Kapil Dev's 4 Consecutive Sixes Against England In 1990

Narendra Hirwani, former Indian spinner had the best seat in the world when all-rounder Kapil Dev smoked off-spinner Eddie Hemmings for four consecutive sixes to help India save the follow-on in the 1990 Test against England and he has no qualms in accepting that.

The 1990 Test between England and India is famous for a plethora of individual feats like Graham Gooch’s triple ton [333], Mohammad Azharuddin sumptuous hundred and Kapil Dev’s four consecutive sixes when India were nine down and was 24 runs away from saving the follow-on after the home side posted 4-653 in the first innings.

It was exactly 30 years ago when Narinder Hirwani strolled out of the Lord’s long room, with India needing 24 runs to reach the magical figure of 454. The leg-spinner still remembers Kapil Dev’s two-word advice, which was ‘Khade rehna [Stay there]’ as the all-rounder decided to take matters in his own hands.

The leg-spinner safely negotiated the last ball, leaving Kapil to do the unthinkable.

“I knew Kapil paaji would take the chance but I never thought he would finish it off in just one over. I had the best seat in the house to watch him bat. To score 24 runs in one over isn’t easy even today. He did that in those days and that too in a pressure situation,” Narendre Hirwani told TOI.

“Had it been six or seven down, Paaji wouldn’t have taken his chances. He got mentally relaxed when I came to bat knowing he had nothing to lose. He knew if India were to score 24 runs, I would have to face some balls and there was more chance of me getting out. Luckily, Hemmings came to bowl. Paaji always loved facing off-spinners as he had an amazing bat swing,” ha added.

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“It suddenly charged all of us”- Narendra Hirwani on Kapil Dev’s onslaught

Kapil Dev had a lovely bat swing and he relished using the long handle, especially off-spinners. Hirwani said that the kind of action that Eddie Hemmings had, it was natural for him to toss the ball up to Kapil, thinking he had 24 runs to play with.

“The kind of action he had, Hemmings would often provide some air. So, if somebody would want to go after him, he could do that. Hemmings took his chances and tossed up the ball after all he had 24 runs to play with,” Narendra Hirwani said.

The pressure got to Hemmings after Dev strolled out and smoked him over his head for consecutive sixes and he ended up bowling the next two balls right into the all-rounder’s slot, hitting him for two more without moving out of the crease.

“I remember, Paaji had blocked the first two balls of the over. Hemmings tossed up the next two balls with a hope that Paaji would mis-hit at least one of them. He thought how many would Paaji hit? However, after being hit for two sixes, Hemmings got under pressure and fed Paaji right in his area. Paaji then hit the next two sixes standing at the crease. There was a fielder in the deep but all four balls landed way beyond the boundary,” Narendra Hirwani said.

Even though India went on to lose the Test, Hirwani said that Kapil Dev’s antics charged the entire team-up.

“It suddenly charged all of us. Though we lost that Test, Paaji gave us that winning feeling even if it had lasted for a brief period. Remember, it requires fearlessness and large-heartedness to play that kind of innings. Paaji was like that only…it came naturally to him and that’s why he could do those things under pressure,” said Hirwani.

The 1st batsman to hit 4 consecutive 6’s in test cricket

Kapil Dev

On this day in 1990

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— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) July 30, 2020