The first semi-finals of the 1983 World Cup witnessed the home side bowing out of the competition after a six-wicket defeat to India at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Despite the Indian team entering this iconic tournament as the underdogs, each member of the side produced match-defining knocks at various stages of the competition to help them reach the summit clash.
Prior to the World Cup, three of the most dominant sides in world cricket were West Indies, England, and Australia. However, India's performance in the tournament changed people's perception about the side and inspired millions of young kids to take up the sport all across the nation.
The young contingent led by Kapil Dev started the tournament in an emphatic fashion with a 34 run win against tournament favourites West Indies.
Carrying the momentum after their impressive start in their opening encounter, the Indian team entered the semi-finals against England, riding high on confidence.
With valuable contributions from the batting unit, the home team posted 213 runs in their allotted 60 overs. While Mohinder Amarnath laid a solid foundation with a crucial knock of 46 runs, his wicket in the middle overs enabled England with a chance to crawl back into the game.
The pressure of the run chase and a place in the summit clash up for grabs, Sandeep Patil walked in at number five. The flamboyant right-handed batsman was renowned for his free-flowing style of play and often helped the side score quick runs.
En route to his match-defining half-century (51*), he stitched a crucial 63 run partnership for the fourth wicket with Yashpal Sharma to help India inch closer to victory.
The Old Trafford witnessed plenty of drama while the Indian team was well on course to clinch a famous win. With a solitary run needed, the spectators invaded the pitch resulting in a stoppage of play for a couple of minutes.
While the ground was cleared to continue the proceedings, England set an unusual field with all their players to the offside, bringing a rare smile on Sandeep Patil's face. It was fitting for a man who helped the side with his destructive knock score the winnings runs and guide them to the final. His eight boundaries off the 32 deliveries at a strike rate of 159.37 helped the Indian team chase down the target with six wickets to spare.
