On June 7, 1975, at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, history was made. The inaugural ODI World Cup, officially known as the Prudential Cup, kicked off with India facing the host nation, England. India fielded a formidable bowling lineup featuring the likes of Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Syed Abid Ali, Karsan Ghavri, Srinivas Venkataraghavan, and Eknath Solkar. It was Madan Lal, however, who held the honor of delivering the first ball of this groundbreaking tournament.
The 60-over format was new, and Madan Lal etched his name in the history books by bowling the first ball to England’s opener, Dennis Amiss. Known for his accuracy and ability to swing the ball both ways, Madan Lal was a crucial asset to India’s bowling attack in the early days of limited-overs cricket.
Despite his disciplined bowling, the match against England proved to be a challenging one for India. England, fueled by Dennis Amiss’s impressive 137 runs, posted a massive total of 334 for 4 in their 60 overs – a formidable target by the standards of that era. In response, India could only manage 132 for 3, losing the match by a staggering 202 runs. Sunil Gavaskar, famously known for his defensive batting, played a cautious innings of 36 runs off 174 balls, hitting only one boundary.
While India’s opening match was a defeat, and they ultimately exited the tournament in the group stage, Madan Lal’s role as the bowler who delivered the first ball of India’s World Cup journey remains a significant achievement. His contributions to Indian cricket, particularly in the ODI format, extended beyond this initial moment. He was also a key member of the Indian team that won the 1983 World Cup, further solidifying his legacy in the sport.
