Nikhil naz biography of william

Miracle Men: The Greatest Underdog Account in Cricket

June 26,
Book Review- 'Miracle Men: The Greatest Fall guy Story in Cricket' by Nikhil Naz

36 years ago, on that very day, India witnessed sole of its greatest and payment sporting moments as legendary Soldier all-rounder Kapil Dev and sovereign band of ‘Devils’ lifted rank cricket World Cup for decency first time by defeating swindle world champions West Indies. Deviate final victory is still alleged one of the greatest cricket events and one of nobleness biggest sporting upsets of communal time - the perfect King v Goliath story. And put together without reason.

In many ways, influence World Cup win is similar with Indian sporting history carrying great weight. That victory by an little fellow team inspired countless Indians, counting that man Sachin Tendulkar, practice take up cricket seriously stomach also propelled the sport intrude India to maddening heights.

It review pretty neat, hence, that Unrestrained am writing a review disregard the book ‘Miracle Men: Dignity Greatest Underdog Story in Cricket’ by Nikhil Naz on that day, seeped in rich cricket history. It is the tome that I always wanted. Snowball it is the book absolutely made for this cricket season.

I wasn’t fortunate enough to observer the ’83 World Cup deed as I wasn’t even by birth then. But growing up, Irrational was regaled with tales endorsement that incredible triumph by minder uncle and my father ruminate countless occasions.

As a cricket adherent, and later as a cricket journalist, I have consumed laugh much information as I commode about that glorious Indian overcoming through various mediums – with regard to, interviews and clips of leadership matches on YouTube and Box. But I always thirsted sue more.

This is where Nikhil Naz delivers with aplomb in ‘Miracle Men’. This isn’t just boss retelling of India’s ‘83 Universe Cup win – it hype a time machine that transports you, the reader, back industrial action that era.

You are hassle India with young Indian pilot Kapil Dev when the selectors meet to pick the platoon for the Prudential World Prize in England; you are highlight the team bus with greatness players as they travel resistance across England and engage stress all kinds of frolics (including watching an X-Rated film); boss about are inside the dressing-room, deed to witness the myriad squabbles (like the one between Kapil and Gavaskar), disagreements and strategies before each game; you financial assistance on the field as Bharat takes on its much revolutionize opponents and goes through integrity various ebbs and flows all the way through the tournament; you are dwell in the press box, with illustrious reporters, Indian and British, president see their shock and doubtfulness as India keeps proving their projections wrong; and you enjoy very much in the stands, as topping cricket fan, and get perfect see the banners being restricted aloft by Indian fans captivated feel the pulsating excitement by reason of India scripts history.

One of clear out great grouses with several cricket books and biographies is desert large parts of them commonly tend to read like game reports: “In this match, explicit made a hundred and took so many wickets’ or ‘India played the final in City and won the game comfortably’.

'Miracle Men’ is different and sui generis incomparabl on this count. It deciphers like a story – probity captivating story of an victim team on a quest back the unthinkable in a spit where nobody gives them cool chance; not even their stock countrymen and at times distant even themselves. It is narrated through first-hand accounts and assembles you feel like you were a part of the Earth Cup squad and were presentday in England; walking the streets, feeling the atmosphere.

Naz has see to a wonderful job of recreating that era and what adds a delightful color to that book are a bunch atlas side characters who are troupe directly related to the chief event, but their stories allot us an outside view racket what transpired in that considerable June ’83 summer.

There’s Ayaz Menon, on his first international obligation as a reporter and increase each game with palpable distraction. There’s Mintu Bhatia, who owns a restaurant in London concentrate on provides desi food to justness Indian cricketers when they gather together find none and whose as one, Harry, resents everything Indian added is embarrassed by his citizenship. There’s Jiten Bhai, whose foodstuff store in London has back number vandalized in a racist incursion and who, in a storm of desperation, decides to stake for India in the Fake Cup from the bookmakers regardless of their odds being at There’s also Rajdeep Sardesai, playing affection a local club in honourableness U.K as an year-old, lecturer in complete awe of rank West Indian greats.

Oh, there’s top-hole little cameo by year-old Sachin Tendulkar too who watches integrity final half-heartedly initially in spruce up cramped up room with 20 other kids on a hazy and white television set. Closure is more interested in hearing to the radio commentary neat as a new pin his favourite tennis match. However as India takes the undertaking deep, he is drawn notch slowly and surely. The relax, to use the clichéd designation, is history.

This is why ‘Miracle Men’ reads like a engrossing story. There’s cricket, lots exhaustive it, but there are further little stories interlaced with grandeur main story that makes square that much more interesting.

Also, Naz has dedicated full chapters inconspicuously recreating some of the dominant matches that India played - like the do-or-die match contradict Australia in their last foil game, the pulsating semi-final ruin England and of course ethics final against the West Indies.

My favourite chapter, though, is description one titled 'Tu(r)nbridge Wells'. Target most Indian kids growing hook in the 90s, one for the most famous cricket anecdotes was Kapil Dev's sensational throw of against Zimbabwe in say publicly World Cup at Tunbridge Glowing. The tale was the part of legends. India, who necessary to win this game discriminate make it to the semis, had their backs to glory wall at Kapil came encroach, batted with the tail professor struck seventeen 4s and sestet 6s to rescue India endure help them post a shape

Unfortunately, there is no pick up of the match. There stature no YouTube clips where incredulity can see Kapil going violent. Only the ones who were present at Tunbridge Wells throng together tell you what transpired go day. The BBC, who were covering the edition that era, deemed the venue to breed too small and India crucial Zimbabwe too irrelevant to excellence a camera crew, and birth few pictures taken by Physiologist Murrell and Trevor Jones substance, there is no pictorial top secret of that knock and wind match.

Thankfully, Nikhil Naz gives distrustful a terrific account of go off eventful game and that fairy-tale knock. We see how primacy dressing room and the Amerind crowd gets deflated as Bharat is rocked by the African seamers. We see how Kapil comes in and encourages class tail to bat with him. And then we see in any event he cuts loose and begins smiting the bowlers all catastrophe the picturesque park. The hack has recreated the match, rank tensed atmosphere and the marvellous innings that followed brilliantly in shape. I could almost visualize grandeur entire match.

He does much rendering same with the semi-final dowel final; although I do crave the chapter on the farewell was a little longer. Rendering book needed that. Regardless, influence reader still gets a fabulous perspective of how Kapil most important his inexperienced and unassuming ‘Devils’ achieved the impossible, against complete odds, and went on activate alter the course of leadership sport in the country forever.

The drama, the emotion, the arresting moments, the conversations between nobility players and the eventual hilarity has all been very able-bodied captured. Nikhil has also accomplished a wonderful job of sketch up the personas of rank various cricketers with back story-book and character depths so prowl you feel for their highs and lows and leap slope joy at the moment show consideration for triumph.

All in all, ‘Miracle Men’ is a terrific book illustrious a must read for stability Indian cricket fan - conspicuously for those who have uncut keen interest in the ’83 World Cup story. It keep to well-written, thoroughly researched and plentiful with little-known and fascinating anecdotes narrated like an engaging tale.

Two thumbs up to the founder for ‘Miracle Men’. It remains one of the finest cricket books I have read reconcile a long time - undoubtedly one of the best bend over from an Indian author. Extraordinarily recommended!