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'My Towel Dropped...' - Syed Kirmani Recalls Dressing Room Chaos During Kapil Dev's Iconic 175*

Syed Kirmani shared an interesting story from 1982 WC match vs Zimbabwe (X)Syed Kirmani shared an interesting story from 1982 WC match vs Zimbabwe (X)

The 1983 World Cup is etched in the hearts of Indian fans, not just for the fairytale win, but for Kapil Dev’s iconic 175* against Zimbabwe—a knock that single-handedly kept India's campaign alive. While Kapil set the field alight, what unfolded in the dressing room was nothing short of a comedy of errors, as shared by Syed Kirmani, the man who watched the collapse unfold with a piece of toast in his mouth and a towel around his waist.

Kirmani shared hilarious anecdote from India's 1983 World Cup Clash Vs Zimbabwe

Reflecting on that chaotic day at Tunbridge Wells in an interview, Kirmani recalled:

“We were 17 for five. The conditions at Tunbridge Wells were not very well read (laughs)—no team would’ve batted first after winning the toss, but Kapil did just that. Normally, I never got to bat in limited-overs cricket. So, I was relaxing with my towel on after the warm-ups. I had a toast in one hand and was about to go in for a nice shower. Suddenly I heard someone screaming, ‘Hey Kiri, pad up’! I obviously took that as a joke.”

Unaware of the carnage unfolding on the field, Kirmani stayed put, enjoying his snack. But the next shout came with a sense of urgency that couldn’t be ignored.

"Nevertheless, minutes later, there was another shout, “Kiri, what are you doing, man? Put your gear on! At that point, I thought there was something wrong somewhere, so I peered through the window to look at the scoreboard, and I saw 17/5. My towel dropped! (laughs)," Kirmani said, laughing at the memory.


Kirmani got a front-row seat to Kapil Dev's historic 175*

The situation was dire, and by the time Kirmani made his way to the crease, India was struggling at 140 for 8. It was then that he shared a simple yet crucial plan with Kapil Dev, the man who was already on a rampage.

"I told Kapil, ‘Maar k Marna hai apne ko’ (We have to go down fighting). My job was to take a single and let Kapil retain strike. From there on, it was absolute carnage," Kirmani recalled.

Kapil unleashed an onslaught on the Zimbabwean bowlers, hammering 16 boundaries and 6 sixes, turning what seemed like a lost cause into one of the most famous comebacks in World Cup history.

Kapil's heroic 175* off 138 balls helped India post a total of 266/8, and India eventually bowled out Zimbabwe for 235, winning the match by 31 runs.

India’s incredible journey culminated in their historic World Cup win, where they defeated the mighty West Indies by 43 runs in the final.