From Kapil Dev to Suryakumar Yadav - how stunning catches helped India win World Cup finals

The two most iconic moments for India in the World Cups were Kapil Dev’s running catch to dismiss Viv Richards during the 1983 World Cup final and MS Dhoni's six off SL's Nuwan Kulasekera to win the 50-over WC in the 2011 final. But now since Suryakumar Yadav has pulled off a screamer in the thriller against South Africa in Barbados, it seems the Indian fans have another moment to cherish in a winning campaign.

India beat Proteas by seven runs in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday (June 29) to lift the trophy for the second time – joint-most with West Indies and England, and Suryakumar Yadav has a massive role to play in that.

Though not entirely for his batting in the final, his stunner to dismiss David Miller, which put India in the winning position, will be the one to be talked about for a long time.

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With South Africa needing 16 off the final over and Miller on the strike, SKY’s catch to dismiss him was the game-changing moment for Team India. That, however, reminded everyone of another instance where a catch turned out to be the decisive factor in a World Cup final. Yes, we are talking about the extraordinary catch by Kapil Dev in 1983.

Similarity between the catches

Like how India batted first in a World Cup final the other night, the Indian Team did the same 41 years ago against the defending champions West Indies.

Defending a modest total of 183, WI’s star batter Richards was on the rampage, scoring at over run-a-ball. India needed his wicket to stay in the game, and Captain Kapil Dev took it upon himself to contribute.

Off Madan Lal’s bowling, Viv top-edged one to the leg side, and Kapil Dev, standing on the square leg, ran towards the boundary and grabbed a stunning catch to get rid of him. That moment broke West Indies’ momentum as they got all out on 140 and lost the final.

Fast forward four decades, India needed such an effort from someone on the field, and SKY raised his hands to get the job done. And boy, what an effort that was! Massive in every context of the game.

With India completing a double in ODI and T20 WCs, they are the second team alongside West Indies to have four world titles, with Australia leading the race with seven to their name.