83 poster: Pankaj Tripathi is the man behind the scenes of India's World Cup triumph as PR Man Singh

While it is always the players who enjoy the limelight and the plaudits, the men behind the curtain are often forgotten. PR Man Singh is one such personality. As a man-manager and chief motivator of the Indian cricket team in 1983, his influence in helping an unheralded team to victory is often ignored. Kabir Khan's 83 (2020) will see Pankaj Tripathi take on the role PR Man Singh, alongside Ranveer Singh's Kapil Dev. 

Having started out as an off-break bowler representing Hyderabad in the Ranji trophy, PR Man Singh was elected assistant manager of the 1983 tournament. He was also among the six-member team of Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) who selected Kapil Dev to captain the team for the tournament. 

Not only was Man Singh's man-management key to motivating the players, but also his defence of the team in front of a hostile foreign media earned him plaudits. One such victory was Man Singh's letter to Wisden Cricket Monthly's editor, David Frith, who dismissed India's chances at the tournament. Man Singh wrote a letter suggesting 'India will make him eat his words', which proved prophetic. To their credit, Wisden ran an article at the end of the tournament with Frith jocularly eating the article, with Man Singh's words on the byline. 

83 is directed by Kabir Khan, and will feature Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev, alongside a team filled with Ammy Virk, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Saqib Saleem, Jiiva, Chirag Patil and others. 

The film, produced by Reliance Entertainment, Deepika Padukone, Vishnu Induri, Kabir Khan and Phantom Films will release in theatres on 10 April 2020.