Kapil Dev: Cricket
Kapil Dev Ramial Nikhanj (January 6, 1959) is a former Indian cricketer who led his team to World Cup victory in 1983 where he was also the captain. He is the only cricketer to score over 5,000 runs and taken more than 400 wickets in Test cricket. He made his first class debut for the Indian national team in 1978-79 series against Pakistan. He ended his Test career with a record 434 wickets in 131 Test matches (record broken later by Jamaica’s Courtney Walsh), including 23 five-wicket matches.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
He broke Richard Hadlee’s record of 431 wickets in Test cricket in 1994. He’s the only player to achieve the all-rounder’s double of 4,000 Test runs and 400 Test wickets.
Kapil Dev became the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket with a total of 253 wickets until later the record was broken by Wasim Akram in 1994.
He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010, Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983 and Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002. He received the Lieutenant Colonel honor in 2008 under the honoring body of Indian Territorial Army.
Why Was He So Good?
Kapil Dev was a right-arm pace bowler. He was highly regarded because of his great energy, polished action and powerful outswinger. He became his team’s main strike bowler for most of his cricket career. In the 80s, he developed an inswinging Yorker that he used against tall-enders. He also was a natural striker of the ball as a batsman, who could hook and drive effortlessly. When he became the captain of the Indian national team in 1983, he downplayed strategy and led by example. Dev led his teams to numerous championships despite inconsistent performances during his early cricketing years.
What You May Not Know
- Dev started playing for his local cricket team, Haryana, when he was only 16.
- When he retired, he started playing golf and pledged his organs during an event organized by Delhi Urological Society.
- Kapil Dev made cameo appearances in different Hindi movies like “Iqbal” and “Mujhse Shaadi Karogi”.
He became the coach of the Indian Cricket team from October 1999 to August 2000 but resigned later after allegations were thrown at him.
Was he a legend?
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Related Pages
- More cricket players
- About Cricket
- Athlete Database home
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