On the esteemed anniversary of the historic 1983 World Cup, the Indian cricket fans have all eyes and ears for candid talks with the players, talk shows, in nut shell infotainment full on with a motive to keep readers excited and enticed The Daily Guardian spoke to the renowned Indian legendary cricketer Madan Lal. He was Indian cricketer from 1974 to 1987 and Indian national cricket coach. He was a member of the 1983 Cricket World Cup winning Indian squad.
Q. Sir, what is more important IPL or World Cup?
A. No definitely you can’t compare IPL with the World Cup. It’s a world cup because that is for the country this is a different cricket all together IPL is 20-20 match and world cup is 50 over match. It’s a World Cup therefore much bigger than IPL.
Q. In 83 Hardy Sandhu the Punjabi pop singer and actor played your character in the film. What do you think did he reach closer enough to live your character?
A. Hardy Sandhu has done a very good job overall and as you know you cannot emulate the person entirely. Out of ten he can get 8 marks as he has done a great job and the other thing was he was a cricketer before and he took the coaching from me in NCA. So, that’s why it wasn’t difficult for him to catch my action.
Q. Do you think the scene was recreated well where Hardy Sandhu aka Madan Lal is requesting Ranveer Singh aka the Captain Kapil Dev for the next over to oust Desmond Haynes and then Viv Richards. Would you like to share the incident which created history, the decision that made history?
A. It’s not only about Viv Richards wicket. World cup has created the history, it was a team effort. Not only Madan Lal or any other player you name should get the credit. Kapil Dev, Mohindar Amarnath or Sunil Gavaskar or Srikanth or so believe in Sandip Patil but they are all contributors for the win but yes I asked for the over and Kapil Dev gave me the over and after then it was a history.
Q. 1983 the first World Cup of India though the flick has been made but we would like to listen to the stories from the man himself who turned out to be the highest impact bowler of 1983.
A. Well, when you have been given the role and you have to do it. You will try your best and if something good happens and things go ur way. In English conditions it becomes a little bit easy as the ball comes and moves around, you can get the wicket as well. So this thing happened with us. Also you know the ball was moving, the condition was different and I got the important wicket in the beginning of the inning. So that’s the reason I thing you can say the impact but definitely I must say that’s the team effort.
Q. Indian fans profoundly call you us Maddad Laal. Also is that only reason that you have often extricated Indian team from the tricky situations or in general life also you give Maddad to all?
A. No I give maddad to all. It’s my job to help other people like that’s my nature you know in cricket I always use to look for opportunity to contribute for the team to win the game that’s what I do. So you know sometimes you click and sometimes you don’t but still in crucial stages in crunch matches I have done well. So that’s the reason they called me Maddad Lal.
Q. Your most memorable match other than 83 and why?
A. Yeah I played test match in Bombay where I got 5-23 that was one of the best match I had played so any match which you win for the country that’s anyhow always going to be memorable match.
Q. Your bonding with the winning squad of 83?
A. Yeah! definitely we have what’s app group and we share our ups and down or horrible days and all these things and we are still in touch with most of the players.