India never perhaps understood the format when they entered the 1975 Prudential World Cup. In the case of most major teams, they had played some one-day cricket before the World Cup. India as a team had only two prior matches in 1974 against England, both of which they had lost.

The Indian team had a strong batting line-up. Technically sounds and with big reputations to boot. Unfortunately, they had little or no experience in this format and it showed immediately! The first time ever that India played in a World Cup match became infamous for Sunil Gavaskar's 36! He played on for all the 60 overs and it seemed to most that India was playing for a draw! Perhaps they were, in which case, they achieved the desired result! Chasing a mammoth 335, all India managed was 132 for 3. Gundappa Viswanath with 37 off 59 balls was the only batsman who showed any aptitude for one-day cricket.

Gavaskar has since agreed that this was his worst innings ever. At the time, run rate considerations didn't seem to come into play although the competition rules stated that in case teams were tied on points, it was the run rate that would decide who went through. But this was perhaps the inexperience of the Indian team in playing one-day cricket that brought about this attitude. But it had an effect on the crowds supporting the team. They wanted him to "die fighting" but he just kept the agony going.

In the previous two matches India had played in, Ajit Wadekar had scored a fifty and the Indian spin quartet had managed to grab a few wickets too. But the stage and perhaps the English total in the first game proved too much to handle.

India's campaign didn't really get any better except for a win over East Africa (EA was a combined team of club cricketers from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). That turned out to be an easy win with India winning by 10 wickets chasing 123. Surprisingly, they also maintained a run rate of over 4 runs per over! Sunil Gavaskar top scored for India with 65 (this time off just 86 balls) and with wicket keeper Farrokh Engineer (54 not out) ensured India made it easily.

India's last match of their first World Cup campaign was to be against New Zealand. India won the toss and captain Srinivas Venkatraghavan decided to bat first. At this point, the game had turned into a virtual quarter-final with India and New Zealand both with one win and one loss to their credit. The Indian innings never really got going and it was thanks to Abid Ali's 70 and his partnership with Madan Lal (20) of 55 that India got themselves out of the hole they were in at 101 for 6.

The eventual score of 230 though always seemed 40 short of par for the course. And Glenn Turner's 114 at the top of the innings and that he carried his bat through the innings ensured New Zealand were always settled at one end even if a wicket went down. Abid Ali shone with the ball too, picking up two wickets but consistent support from new batsmen saw Turner take New Zealand home without too much trouble and into the semi-final.

Technically, India had a chance of making the semi-final on debut, if you will, but lack of awareness and match practice about the format of the game prevented them from going further. There was a also an inherent lack of interest at some levels and certain senior players were accused of being "aloof" and therefore affecting team morale. Reports of infighting among some seniors also surfaced soon after and all this together was always going to be a tall ask to conquer and concentrate on the cricket at hand. Maybe next time…

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