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Miracle Men: The Greatest Underdog Story in Cricket
The year was 1983 and Team India was in its first-ever World Cup final. They were the minnows of the cricketing world – so much so that the bookmakers were offering 66:1 against India winning the title.
Yet, despite the odds stacked against them, Kapil Dev’s inspirational captaincy took a bunch of no-hopers to World Cup glory. As Dev held the trophy in his hands on 25 June that year, India ushered in an era during which cricket would go on to dominate all sporting activity in the country and the men who played the winning innings would be venerated as demigods.
Based on first-hand accounts of the days leading up to that historic win, Miracle Men brings alive some of the most glorious moments in Indian cricket. From dressing-room disagreements to selectorial intrigues to on-field strategies, this riveting account is as entertaining and full of unexpected turns as the best game of cricket.
Yet, despite the odds stacked against them, Kapil Dev’s inspirational captaincy took a bunch of no-hopers to World Cup glory. As Dev held the trophy in his hands on 25 June that year, India ushered in an era during which cricket would go on to dominate all sporting activity in the country and the men who played the winning innings would be venerated as demigods.
Based on first-hand accounts of the days leading up to that historic win, Miracle Men brings alive some of the most glorious moments in Indian cricket. From dressing-room disagreements to selectorial intrigues to on-field strategies, this riveting account is as entertaining and full of unexpected turns as the best game of cricket.
- GenresNonfictionSports
157 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 30, 2025
4.25 ⭐
GENRE - NON FICTION / SPORTS / CRICKET
PAGES - 216
The book is about the Indian Cricket teams World Cup Campaign of 1983 in which India considered as underdogs went on to win the 1983 edition of the Prudential Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The book starts off with the story of Sachin Tendulkar watching the 1983 cricket World Cup final at his home and how he was inspired to pursue cricket further after watching Kapil Dev and his devils lift up the 1983 Cricket World Cup at Lords, England.
The book covers the entire Indian Cricket Teams Campaign of the 1983 World Cup right from the time Sunil Gavaskar was dropped as Captain and Kapil Dev was elected as captain to lead India in the Global Cricketing event that was to be held in the UK.
The politics of that time within the Indian cricket circles aswell as the other teams is showcased in this book in detail. How the cricket pundits of that era had written off India and even players of first timers teams playing the World Cup like Zimbabwe commented on India is all mentioned in the book.
The book is well written and in detail about the Indian campaign of the 1983 Cricket World Cup, The book would be even better had the author posted Scorecards of all the Indian matches as well as a few more pictures from the world cup campaign would make it even more interesting for the readers.
Higly Recommended book for all those Indian Cricket Fans.
Thank You 🙏💚😊
GENRE - NON FICTION / SPORTS / CRICKET
PAGES - 216
The book is about the Indian Cricket teams World Cup Campaign of 1983 in which India considered as underdogs went on to win the 1983 edition of the Prudential Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The book starts off with the story of Sachin Tendulkar watching the 1983 cricket World Cup final at his home and how he was inspired to pursue cricket further after watching Kapil Dev and his devils lift up the 1983 Cricket World Cup at Lords, England.
The book covers the entire Indian Cricket Teams Campaign of the 1983 World Cup right from the time Sunil Gavaskar was dropped as Captain and Kapil Dev was elected as captain to lead India in the Global Cricketing event that was to be held in the UK.
The politics of that time within the Indian cricket circles aswell as the other teams is showcased in this book in detail. How the cricket pundits of that era had written off India and even players of first timers teams playing the World Cup like Zimbabwe commented on India is all mentioned in the book.
The book is well written and in detail about the Indian campaign of the 1983 Cricket World Cup, The book would be even better had the author posted Scorecards of all the Indian matches as well as a few more pictures from the world cup campaign would make it even more interesting for the readers.
Higly Recommended book for all those Indian Cricket Fans.
Thank You 🙏💚😊
December 28, 2019
Relive the memories of 1983 Cricket World cup.
Perhaps the most incredible moment in Indian cricket history.
Perhaps the most incredible moment in Indian cricket history.
June 26, 2019
Book Review- 'Miracle Men: The Greatest Underdog Story in Cricket' by Nikhil Naz
36 years ago, on this very day, India witnessed one of its greatest and finest sporting moments as legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev and his band of ‘Devils’ lifted the cricket World Cup for the first time by defeating two-time world champions West Indies. That 1983 final victory is still considered one of the greatest cricket events and one of the biggest sporting upsets of all time - the perfect David v Goliath story. And not without reason.
In many ways, the 1983 World Cup win is synonymous with Indian sporting history now. That victory by an underdog team inspired countless Indians, including that man Sachin Tendulkar, to take up cricket seriously and also propelled the sport in India to maddening heights.
It is pretty neat, hence, that I am writing a review of the book ‘Miracle Men: The Greatest Underdog Story in Cricket’ by Nikhil Naz on this day, seeped in rich cricket history. It is the book that I always wanted. And it is the book perfectly made for this cricket season.
I wasn’t fortunate enough to witness the ’83 World Cup victory as I wasn’t even born then. But growing up, I was regaled with tales of that incredible triumph by my uncle and my father on countless occasions.
As a cricket fan, and later as a cricket journalist, I have consumed as much information as I can about that glorious Indian victory through various mediums – articles, interviews and clips of the matches on YouTube and TV. But I always thirsted for more.
This is where Nikhil Naz delivers with aplomb in ‘Miracle Men’. This isn’t just a retelling of India’s ‘83 World Cup win – it is a time machine that transports you, the reader, back to that era.
You are in India with young Indian captain Kapil Dev when the selectors meet to pick the squad for the 1983 Prudential World Cup in England; you are on the team bus with the players as they travel all across England and engage in all kinds of frolics (including watching an X-Rated film); you are inside the dressing-room, getting to witness the myriad squabbles (like the one between Kapil and Gavaskar), disagreements and strategies before each game; you are on the field as India takes on its much stronger opponents and goes through the various ebbs and flows throughout the tournament; you are in the press box, with famous reporters, Indian and British, and see their shock and disbelief as India keeps proving their projections wrong; and you are in the stands, as a cricket fan, and get to see the banners being held aloft by Indian fans and feel the pulsating excitement as India scripts history.
One of my great grouses with several cricket books and biographies is that large parts of them often tend to read like match reports: “In this match, he made a hundred and took so many wickets’ or ‘India played the final in Mumbai and won the game comfortably’.
'Miracle Men’ is different and unique on this count. It reads like a story – the captivating story of an underdog team on a quest for the unthinkable in a land where nobody gives them a chance; not even their own countrymen and at times not even themselves. It is narrated through first-hand accounts and makes you feel like you were a part of the 1983 World Cup squad and were there in England; walking the streets, feeling the atmosphere.
Naz has done a wonderful job of recreating that era and what adds a delightful color to this book are a bunch of side characters who are not directly related to the main event, but their stories give us an outside view of what transpired in that momentous June ’83 summer.
There’s Ayaz Menon, on his first international assignment as a reporter and covering each game with palpable excitement. There’s Mintu Bhatia, who owns a restaurant in London and provides desi food to the Indian cricketers when they can find none and whose son, Harry, resents everything Indian and is embarrassed by his roots. There’s Jiten Bhai, whose grocery store in London has been vandalized in a racist attack and who, in a fit of desperation, decides to bet for India in the World Cup from the bookmakers despite their odds being at 66:1. There’s also Rajdeep Sardesai, playing for a local club in the U.K as an 18-year-old, and in complete awe of the West Indian greats.
Oh, there’s a little cameo by 10-year-old Sachin Tendulkar too who watches the final half-heartedly initially in a cramped up room with 20 other kids on a black and white television set. He is more interested in listening to the radio commentary of his favourite tennis match. But as India takes the game deep, he is drawn in slowly and surely. The rest, to use the clichéd term, is history.
This is why ‘Miracle Men’ reads like a fascinating story. There’s cricket, lots of it, but there are also little stories interlaced with the main story that makes it that much more interesting.
Also, Naz has dedicated full chapters to recreating some of the main matches that India played - like the do-or-die match against Australia in their last league game, the pulsating semi-final against England and of course the final against the West Indies.
My favourite chapter, though, is the one titled 'Tu(r)nbridge Wells'. For most Indian kids growing up in the 90s, one of the most famous cricket anecdotes was Kapil Dev's sensational knock of 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup at Tunbridge Wells. The tale was the stuff of legends. India, who needed to win this game to make it to the semis, had their backs to the wall at 17-5. Kapil came in, batted with the tail and struck seventeen 4s and six 6s to rescue India and help them post a healthy 266-8.
Unfortunately, there is no recording of the match. There are no YouTube clips where we can see Kapil going berserk. Only the ones who were present at Tunbridge Wells can tell you what transpired that day. The BBC, who were covering the edition that year, deemed the venue to be too small and India and Zimbabwe too irrelevant to merit a camera crew, and the few pictures taken by Adrian Murrell and Trevor Jones aside, there is no pictorial record of that knock and that match.
Thankfully, Nikhil Naz gives us a terrific account of that eventful game and that legendary knock. We see how the dressing room and the Indian crowd gets deflated as India is rocked by the Zimbabwean seamers. We see how Kapil comes in and encourages the tail to bat with him. And then we see how he cuts loose and begins smiting the bowlers all over the picturesque park. The author has recreated the match, the tensed atmosphere and the magical innings that followed brilliantly well. I could almost visualize the entire match.
He does much the same with the semi-final and final; although I do wish the chapter on the final was a little longer. The book needed that. Regardless, the reader still gets a great perspective of how Kapil and his inexperienced and unassuming ‘Devils’ achieved the impossible, against all odds, and went on to alter the course of the sport in the country forever.
The drama, the emotion, the gripping moments, the conversations between the players and the eventual euphoria has all been very well captured. Nikhil has also done a wonderful job of drawing up the personas of the various cricketers with back stories and character depths so that you feel for their highs and lows and leap in joy at the moment of triumph.
All in all, ‘Miracle Men’ is a terrific book and a must read for any Indian cricket fan - especially for those who have a keen interest in the ’83 World Cup story. It is well-written, thoroughly researched and filled with little-known and fascinating anecdotes narrated like an engaging tale.
Two thumbs up to the author for ‘Miracle Men’. It is one of the finest cricket books I have read in a long time - certainly one of the best ones from an Indian author. Highly recommended!
36 years ago, on this very day, India witnessed one of its greatest and finest sporting moments as legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev and his band of ‘Devils’ lifted the cricket World Cup for the first time by defeating two-time world champions West Indies. That 1983 final victory is still considered one of the greatest cricket events and one of the biggest sporting upsets of all time - the perfect David v Goliath story. And not without reason.
In many ways, the 1983 World Cup win is synonymous with Indian sporting history now. That victory by an underdog team inspired countless Indians, including that man Sachin Tendulkar, to take up cricket seriously and also propelled the sport in India to maddening heights.
It is pretty neat, hence, that I am writing a review of the book ‘Miracle Men: The Greatest Underdog Story in Cricket’ by Nikhil Naz on this day, seeped in rich cricket history. It is the book that I always wanted. And it is the book perfectly made for this cricket season.
I wasn’t fortunate enough to witness the ’83 World Cup victory as I wasn’t even born then. But growing up, I was regaled with tales of that incredible triumph by my uncle and my father on countless occasions.
As a cricket fan, and later as a cricket journalist, I have consumed as much information as I can about that glorious Indian victory through various mediums – articles, interviews and clips of the matches on YouTube and TV. But I always thirsted for more.
This is where Nikhil Naz delivers with aplomb in ‘Miracle Men’. This isn’t just a retelling of India’s ‘83 World Cup win – it is a time machine that transports you, the reader, back to that era.
You are in India with young Indian captain Kapil Dev when the selectors meet to pick the squad for the 1983 Prudential World Cup in England; you are on the team bus with the players as they travel all across England and engage in all kinds of frolics (including watching an X-Rated film); you are inside the dressing-room, getting to witness the myriad squabbles (like the one between Kapil and Gavaskar), disagreements and strategies before each game; you are on the field as India takes on its much stronger opponents and goes through the various ebbs and flows throughout the tournament; you are in the press box, with famous reporters, Indian and British, and see their shock and disbelief as India keeps proving their projections wrong; and you are in the stands, as a cricket fan, and get to see the banners being held aloft by Indian fans and feel the pulsating excitement as India scripts history.
One of my great grouses with several cricket books and biographies is that large parts of them often tend to read like match reports: “In this match, he made a hundred and took so many wickets’ or ‘India played the final in Mumbai and won the game comfortably’.
'Miracle Men’ is different and unique on this count. It reads like a story – the captivating story of an underdog team on a quest for the unthinkable in a land where nobody gives them a chance; not even their own countrymen and at times not even themselves. It is narrated through first-hand accounts and makes you feel like you were a part of the 1983 World Cup squad and were there in England; walking the streets, feeling the atmosphere.
Naz has done a wonderful job of recreating that era and what adds a delightful color to this book are a bunch of side characters who are not directly related to the main event, but their stories give us an outside view of what transpired in that momentous June ’83 summer.
There’s Ayaz Menon, on his first international assignment as a reporter and covering each game with palpable excitement. There’s Mintu Bhatia, who owns a restaurant in London and provides desi food to the Indian cricketers when they can find none and whose son, Harry, resents everything Indian and is embarrassed by his roots. There’s Jiten Bhai, whose grocery store in London has been vandalized in a racist attack and who, in a fit of desperation, decides to bet for India in the World Cup from the bookmakers despite their odds being at 66:1. There’s also Rajdeep Sardesai, playing for a local club in the U.K as an 18-year-old, and in complete awe of the West Indian greats.
Oh, there’s a little cameo by 10-year-old Sachin Tendulkar too who watches the final half-heartedly initially in a cramped up room with 20 other kids on a black and white television set. He is more interested in listening to the radio commentary of his favourite tennis match. But as India takes the game deep, he is drawn in slowly and surely. The rest, to use the clichéd term, is history.
This is why ‘Miracle Men’ reads like a fascinating story. There’s cricket, lots of it, but there are also little stories interlaced with the main story that makes it that much more interesting.
Also, Naz has dedicated full chapters to recreating some of the main matches that India played - like the do-or-die match against Australia in their last league game, the pulsating semi-final against England and of course the final against the West Indies.
My favourite chapter, though, is the one titled 'Tu(r)nbridge Wells'. For most Indian kids growing up in the 90s, one of the most famous cricket anecdotes was Kapil Dev's sensational knock of 175 against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup at Tunbridge Wells. The tale was the stuff of legends. India, who needed to win this game to make it to the semis, had their backs to the wall at 17-5. Kapil came in, batted with the tail and struck seventeen 4s and six 6s to rescue India and help them post a healthy 266-8.
Unfortunately, there is no recording of the match. There are no YouTube clips where we can see Kapil going berserk. Only the ones who were present at Tunbridge Wells can tell you what transpired that day. The BBC, who were covering the edition that year, deemed the venue to be too small and India and Zimbabwe too irrelevant to merit a camera crew, and the few pictures taken by Adrian Murrell and Trevor Jones aside, there is no pictorial record of that knock and that match.
Thankfully, Nikhil Naz gives us a terrific account of that eventful game and that legendary knock. We see how the dressing room and the Indian crowd gets deflated as India is rocked by the Zimbabwean seamers. We see how Kapil comes in and encourages the tail to bat with him. And then we see how he cuts loose and begins smiting the bowlers all over the picturesque park. The author has recreated the match, the tensed atmosphere and the magical innings that followed brilliantly well. I could almost visualize the entire match.
He does much the same with the semi-final and final; although I do wish the chapter on the final was a little longer. The book needed that. Regardless, the reader still gets a great perspective of how Kapil and his inexperienced and unassuming ‘Devils’ achieved the impossible, against all odds, and went on to alter the course of the sport in the country forever.
The drama, the emotion, the gripping moments, the conversations between the players and the eventual euphoria has all been very well captured. Nikhil has also done a wonderful job of drawing up the personas of the various cricketers with back stories and character depths so that you feel for their highs and lows and leap in joy at the moment of triumph.
All in all, ‘Miracle Men’ is a terrific book and a must read for any Indian cricket fan - especially for those who have a keen interest in the ’83 World Cup story. It is well-written, thoroughly researched and filled with little-known and fascinating anecdotes narrated like an engaging tale.
Two thumbs up to the author for ‘Miracle Men’. It is one of the finest cricket books I have read in a long time - certainly one of the best ones from an Indian author. Highly recommended!
June 25, 2019
A stirring emotional ride that captures the significant and the trivial , all related to India's cricket world cup win in 1983. The author's eye for the absurd is commendable - an example is when he writes on how Indian cricket team was caught watching a porn movie by the highway police. Interspersing the tales of cricketers with that of a (then) novice journalist, an aspiring cricketer, a roadside shop owner ,an Indian restauranteur whose son sings paeans to the Blighty works big time. So many anecdotes but my favourite is Kapil Dev's quote in the press conference after his 175 versus Zimbabwe : Q :"Will India ever produce another Kapil Dev?". A : " Never. My mother old,father no more".
January 26, 2022
I've already told you, I'm a sucker for an underdog story. And it helped that this was a story I already loved.
January 18, 2020
A captivating tale of India's Journey of the 1983 world cup. An amazing feel-good book with interesting anecdotes. The story has been humanized really well. For example, the camaraderie of the team and how Captain Kapil Dev brought the best out of his team makes for a gripping read. Unputdownable and a must-read for every proud Indian.
November 13, 2020
"Behind the billboards, square of the pitch on both sides, is a row of spectators sitting on chairs are that they've brought from home. Those who haven't are either standing behind the chairs or are sprawled on the hillocks rimming the ground, most of them bare chested. The English summer is in full bloom. The sun is bright. Further back, there's smoke rising from a host of barbeques spread across the ground. Each surrounded by a group of peckish cricket fans. Mintu and friends aren't one of them. They've got their home-made shalgam ka saag and makki ki roti packed in neat steel tiffin boxes. It goes well with the barley and hops."
This is my favorite paragraph which lyrically describes the lunch break of June 18, 1983 at Tunbridge Wells. Nevertheless, Kapil and Kirmani resumed play post lunch and the rest is history! Sadly, nobody has the recording of that great innings of 175 not out since BBC decided to cover other two games and ignore the clash between India and Zimbabwe. Yet, you can enjoy this mammoth six at SCG during 1985 B&H Championship.
The first chapter of the book was just like this Cheeka shot -
The author transports us to a middle class neighborhood of Bandra in 1983 where the World Cup win had put up a stunning impression on a ten year old Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Rather than the boring match reports, the book unfolds like a fairy tale. There are a lot of stories about the "rift" between Kapil and Gavaskar, night life of Sandeep Patil and Kirti Azad, why Kirti Azad couldn't congratulate Kapil Dev on his magnificent 175*, which song Srikkanth was singing during batting in the final and most importantly what video was playing in the bus when the police stopped Indian team.
"We had personal scores to settle. English players, press and people did not think we were worthy of reaching the finals. Me and my boys wanted to prove them wrong."
The best part about the book is the parallel stories of Mintu, Harry, Jiten bhai and the stupid Rajdeep Sardesai as well. I think this is one of the best books I have read on Indian cricket. And thank you Nikhil Naz for the wonderful and the greatest underdog story.
"Will India ever produce another Kapil Dev?"
"Never. My mother old, father no more."
This is my favorite paragraph which lyrically describes the lunch break of June 18, 1983 at Tunbridge Wells. Nevertheless, Kapil and Kirmani resumed play post lunch and the rest is history! Sadly, nobody has the recording of that great innings of 175 not out since BBC decided to cover other two games and ignore the clash between India and Zimbabwe. Yet, you can enjoy this mammoth six at SCG during 1985 B&H Championship.
The first chapter of the book was just like this Cheeka shot -
The author transports us to a middle class neighborhood of Bandra in 1983 where the World Cup win had put up a stunning impression on a ten year old Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Rather than the boring match reports, the book unfolds like a fairy tale. There are a lot of stories about the "rift" between Kapil and Gavaskar, night life of Sandeep Patil and Kirti Azad, why Kirti Azad couldn't congratulate Kapil Dev on his magnificent 175*, which song Srikkanth was singing during batting in the final and most importantly what video was playing in the bus when the police stopped Indian team.
"We had personal scores to settle. English players, press and people did not think we were worthy of reaching the finals. Me and my boys wanted to prove them wrong."
The best part about the book is the parallel stories of Mintu, Harry, Jiten bhai and the stupid Rajdeep Sardesai as well. I think this is one of the best books I have read on Indian cricket. And thank you Nikhil Naz for the wonderful and the greatest underdog story.
"Will India ever produce another Kapil Dev?"
"Never. My mother old, father no more."
July 18, 2020
A book on the 1983 World Cup cricketing triumph creates unbridled excitement and high expectations. Hoewever the high expectations need to be right sized as this is not a detailed, scholarly analysis of the reasons behind the journey but takes the form of almost a novel with different threads (of the characters) running in parallel. This is in fact, the greatest strength and the weakness of the book.
The author takes us through the ride during the period with some key characters: 1) the cricket team 2) the journalist (Ayaz Menon) 3) Rajdeep Sardesai (a formative cricketer at that time) and 4) couple of Indian people settled in London (Jiten Parekh and Mintu Bhatia). This voyage is engaging, inspiring and hilarious at many places.
The author keeps the narrative breezy touching upon key milestone, events and mainly trying to get into the minds of the characters involved rather than just a descriptive form another reason why it resembles a novel. On the cricketing front, it is fun to read some behind the scenes dressing room events, emotional upheaveals of the players and you feel very close to the players as the underdog story plays out.
In fact, more than the cricketing tale, the story of the 2 Indians (Jiten and Mintu) is more evocative and you feel the transition pangs, the pain, and the interplay between the older and the younger generation of the British Indians.
The only weak point as mentioned is the lack of rigor in the cricketing analysis, and sometimes you feel that unnecessary details are covered which may be could have been eliminated.
However, the book still stands well on its feet and is a great read to relieve the rousing victory which inspired the next generation of the Indian cricketers (P.S- do watch out for the special appearance in the narrative by a young Sachin!)
The author takes us through the ride during the period with some key characters: 1) the cricket team 2) the journalist (Ayaz Menon) 3) Rajdeep Sardesai (a formative cricketer at that time) and 4) couple of Indian people settled in London (Jiten Parekh and Mintu Bhatia). This voyage is engaging, inspiring and hilarious at many places.
The author keeps the narrative breezy touching upon key milestone, events and mainly trying to get into the minds of the characters involved rather than just a descriptive form another reason why it resembles a novel. On the cricketing front, it is fun to read some behind the scenes dressing room events, emotional upheaveals of the players and you feel very close to the players as the underdog story plays out.
In fact, more than the cricketing tale, the story of the 2 Indians (Jiten and Mintu) is more evocative and you feel the transition pangs, the pain, and the interplay between the older and the younger generation of the British Indians.
The only weak point as mentioned is the lack of rigor in the cricketing analysis, and sometimes you feel that unnecessary details are covered which may be could have been eliminated.
However, the book still stands well on its feet and is a great read to relieve the rousing victory which inspired the next generation of the Indian cricketers (P.S- do watch out for the special appearance in the narrative by a young Sachin!)
July 9, 2025
4.25 ⭐
GENRE - NON FICTION / SPORTS / CRICKET
PAGES - 216
The book is about the Indian Cricket teams World Cup Campaign of 1983 in which India considered as underdogs went on to win the 1983 edition of the Prudential Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The book starts off with the story of Sachin Tendulkar watching the 1983 cricket World Cup final at his home and how he was inspired to pursue cricket further after watching Kapil Dev and his devils lift up the 1983 Cricket World Cup at Lords, England.
The book covers the entire Indian Cricket Teams Campaign of the 1983 World Cup right from the time Sunil Gavaskar was dropped as Captain and Kapil Dev was elected as captain to lead India in the Global Cricketing event that was to be held in the UK.
The politics of that time within the Indian cricket circles aswell as the other teams is showcased in this book in detail. How the cricket pundits of that era had written off India and even players of first timers teams playing the World Cup like Zimbabwe commented on India is all mentioned in the book.
The book is well written and in detail about the Indian campaign of the 1983 Cricket World Cup, The book would be even better had the author posted Scorecards of all the Indian matches as well as a few more pictures from the world cup campaign would make it even more interesting for the readers.
Higly Recommended book for all those Indian Cricket Fans.
Thank You 🙏💚😊
GENRE - NON FICTION / SPORTS / CRICKET
PAGES - 216
The book is about the Indian Cricket teams World Cup Campaign of 1983 in which India considered as underdogs went on to win the 1983 edition of the Prudential Cricket World Cup in the United Kingdom.
The book starts off with the story of Sachin Tendulkar watching the 1983 cricket World Cup final at his home and how he was inspired to pursue cricket further after watching Kapil Dev and his devils lift up the 1983 Cricket World Cup at Lords, England.
The book covers the entire Indian Cricket Teams Campaign of the 1983 World Cup right from the time Sunil Gavaskar was dropped as Captain and Kapil Dev was elected as captain to lead India in the Global Cricketing event that was to be held in the UK.
The politics of that time within the Indian cricket circles aswell as the other teams is showcased in this book in detail. How the cricket pundits of that era had written off India and even players of first timers teams playing the World Cup like Zimbabwe commented on India is all mentioned in the book.
The book is well written and in detail about the Indian campaign of the 1983 Cricket World Cup, The book would be even better had the author posted Scorecards of all the Indian matches as well as a few more pictures from the world cup campaign would make it even more interesting for the readers.
Higly Recommended book for all those Indian Cricket Fans.
Thank You 🙏💚😊
July 28, 2021
Beautifully written account of cricketers who were involved in 1983 world cup and the lives of people who were following them with keen eyes. I really enjoyed the book as its not a typical cricket book that talks about the events during the match, rather the account of matches is very minimal and its the other surrounding events that had impacted our performance during the world cup.. The chemistry and undercurrents between the players and the organisers and the underdogs overcame the adverse circumstances to prove their worth to everyone. The choice of world for a book like this was impeccable and its worth another read as some of the portion would certainly leave you awestruck or would give you goosebumps..
January 26, 2020
Well, easily the most romantic cricket book I’ve read till date !! Apart from the action and anecdotes involving the Indian cricket team — on and off the field; the parallel stories involving Jithen Bhai, Harry, Mintu and Rajdeep, makes this book even more special and enjoyable. There’s never a dull moment during the whole 216 pages read. If you understand cricket — at least by layman’s standards and love reading books, this is the book you’ll enjoy the most. It’s a blockbuster, go for it. Thanks a ton, Nikhil; for this masterpiece.
July 26, 2019
3.5/5 A very well-written book on India’s world cup campaign of 1983. A lot of background issues - Kapil vs Gavaskar, the press, white supremacy in England and the plight of immigrants have been well-covered. Loved Kapil Dev’s clever repartees. Can visualise this book as a movie already.
Exceeded expectations and was very engrossing- didnt notice my flight landing. What more can I ask ?
Perhaps a 100 pages more (it was 150 pages approx currently) and it would have been perfect.
Exceeded expectations and was very engrossing- didnt notice my flight landing. What more can I ask ?
Perhaps a 100 pages more (it was 150 pages approx currently) and it would have been perfect.
December 30, 2019
Being a hardcore cricket fan, my review is a bit biased. But this one deserves it for reliving an era which was before me. One of the greatest David vs Goliath story in cricket. A tournament win which inspired a whole generation and many more to come. But the book is more than just this- it shows the racist society that England was during the period and how minorities built their world during these tough times. Overall an inspiring read. Lookout for a Sachin cameo.
January 28, 2022
I watched 83 and was intrigued by the fact that India won despite being underdogs....while i was checking out the movie, i came across this book and thus ordered it to know more...and then when I read it, I realized, as far as sports are concerned, I prefer movies over books ( a rarity)- I don't enjoy reading about sports so for me, this book was average. If you like to read about sports though, you may give it a go!
June 30, 2019
What a great read this one is.
Bought this book on Kindle on June 25, 2019 - the anniversary day of India's WC win. Bought it on impulse and no regrets at all. A terrific account of on-field and off-field events leading up to the famous victory. Must read if you want to relive the 1983 magic.
Bought this book on Kindle on June 25, 2019 - the anniversary day of India's WC win. Bought it on impulse and no regrets at all. A terrific account of on-field and off-field events leading up to the famous victory. Must read if you want to relive the 1983 magic.
September 6, 2020
AN Awesome tour of '83 worldcup story- full of little known gems and anecdotes; from the Gujju Shopkeeper who put on bet all his savings to Mintu Bhatia; from Rajdeep Sardesai to Ayaz Menon; team selection to team dynamics..
all in all thoroughly enjoyed it!
all in all thoroughly enjoyed it!
January 25, 2021
This books narrates the remarkable journey of india on its first world cup glory. Every match played by india is explained with on and off field incidents in a realistic manner. However some off field events involving west indian team would have added a finishing touch that the book lacked.
January 10, 2020
Very good recollection of 1983 world cup India
January 15, 2023
Some mistakes mar the story
There are enough mistakes to make this less than it should be. It was a good story but lacked something
There are enough mistakes to make this less than it should be. It was a good story but lacked something
April 21, 2022
Miraculous Men: The Greatest Underdog Story is a nostalgic and entertaining retelling of the watershed moment of India's 1983 World Cup win.
The book is lucidly written and could easily be finished in a single read. The fairytale build up to the final is neatly organized in twenty chapters. The opening chapter sets the tone - how the jubilant scenes after the win inspire a ten-year-old Sachin Tendulkar (a die-hard John McEnroe fan) to professionally pursue cricket. The author delves deep into the campaign highlighting intricate details about the selection conundrum, team dynamics and rifts, dressing-room conversations and on-field tactics.
The author succeeds in recreating that era and connecting the audience with the characters (team members, in this case) through humorous anecdotes and instances. The narrative is artfully supplemented with interesting sub-plots - a style of storytelling that keeps you engaged.
The highlight of the book for me is the Tu(r)nbridge Wells chapter. It presents a compelling account of India’s quarter-final match against Zimbabwe and Kapil’s epic knock of 175 which included seventeen 4’s and six 6’s. What makes it even more appealing is the fact that there is no visual recording of the match as the broadcasters BBC deemed the match insignificant for coverage.
Miracle men is a captivating story of dreams, belief and accomplishment, presented with utmost simplicity and sincerity. It promises to be an enjoyable read for an Indian cricket fan - to trace the events that laid the foundation for India becoming the cricket powerhouse that it is today. For anyone who is not into sports or cricket, this is the perfect book to get introduced to the infectious world of sports.
The book is lucidly written and could easily be finished in a single read. The fairytale build up to the final is neatly organized in twenty chapters. The opening chapter sets the tone - how the jubilant scenes after the win inspire a ten-year-old Sachin Tendulkar (a die-hard John McEnroe fan) to professionally pursue cricket. The author delves deep into the campaign highlighting intricate details about the selection conundrum, team dynamics and rifts, dressing-room conversations and on-field tactics.
The author succeeds in recreating that era and connecting the audience with the characters (team members, in this case) through humorous anecdotes and instances. The narrative is artfully supplemented with interesting sub-plots - a style of storytelling that keeps you engaged.
The highlight of the book for me is the Tu(r)nbridge Wells chapter. It presents a compelling account of India’s quarter-final match against Zimbabwe and Kapil’s epic knock of 175 which included seventeen 4’s and six 6’s. What makes it even more appealing is the fact that there is no visual recording of the match as the broadcasters BBC deemed the match insignificant for coverage.
Miracle men is a captivating story of dreams, belief and accomplishment, presented with utmost simplicity and sincerity. It promises to be an enjoyable read for an Indian cricket fan - to trace the events that laid the foundation for India becoming the cricket powerhouse that it is today. For anyone who is not into sports or cricket, this is the perfect book to get introduced to the infectious world of sports.
January 7, 2022
I will keep it short and simple.
Do you really want to know the story of how India won the '83 World Cup, defeating the mighty West Indies, without having to go through 2 hrs of watching a film which among other things showed "an enemy state supposedly stopping their bombing act so that Indians can listen to radio"/"Deepika Padukone"/"Lot of melodrama typical to bollywood"?
Read this book.
Do you really want to know the story of how India won the '83 World Cup, defeating the mighty West Indies, without having to go through 2 hrs of watching a film which among other things showed "an enemy state supposedly stopping their bombing act so that Indians can listen to radio"/"Deepika Padukone"/"Lot of melodrama typical to bollywood"?
Read this book.
December 1, 2025
A trip down memory lane
A must read for any Indian cricket fan . Even details Kapil's historic knock at Tunbridge wells . An amazing underdog story if there ever was one
A must read for any Indian cricket fan . Even details Kapil's historic knock at Tunbridge wells . An amazing underdog story if there ever was one
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