Kirti Azad has rubbished a viral social media claim linked to India’s historic 1983 World Cup triumph, calling it a fabricated document. The post features what looks like a hotel invoice, suggesting that on the night of June 25, 1983—when India won their first-ever World Cup in England—large quantities of alcohol were ordered. Azad, who was part of the tournament squad and appeared in three matches, dismissed the image as fake outright.
In the circulated picture, viewers can reportedly spot items such as whiskey, beer, cigarettes and ashtrays. The booking is said to be made under the name “Indian cricket team,” and the document bears the signature of none other than Kapil Dev, the captain of that legendary side. Azad’s contention is that the bill cannot be genuine because the team never checked in at that property on that occasion. He noted that celebrations did continue late into the night, but at a different venue—Westmoreland Hotel, located next to Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.
“This is fake. It is all over social media. We stayed at Westmoreland Hotel, next to Lords cricket Ground, London. After the victory on 25 June 1983 celebrations took place all night till morning of 26th June. We never went to this hotel. The signature of Kapil Dev is also forged,” Azad wrote on X.
While many fans may find it hard to argue with Azad, the incident has still sparked plenty of debate online. Some people have wondered aloud about what might have happened if certain members of that winning group had decided to carry the celebrations elsewhere, or if Azad simply wasn’t part of that particular night’s activities. Others, however, have focused on the more sensational angle in the viral post: the presence of alcohol and cigarettes on a bill associated with the team.
Reactions have ranged from criticism to amusement. A section of supporters has questioned the partying and alcohol consumption, especially given that cigarettes were also included in the order. Another set has gone the other way, praising the group for turning the celebration into a proper party. Yet, once the central claim is rejected as counterfeit, the debate over whether the purchases were “worth judging” becomes secondary.
What the viral image has arguably managed to do, despite its dubious basis, is pull memories of India’s 1983 triumph back into the spotlight. That victory remains one of the most celebrated shocks in cricket history: at Lord’s, the Indian team under Kapil Dev defied the odds to stun heavy favourites, the West Indies—who had already won the inaugural World Cup in 1975 and then again in 1979. Had India not pulled off that upset, the West Indies would have become the first side to lift the World Cup three times in a row. More than two decades later, Australia eventually achieved that rare feat.
