kapil dev: Kapil dev

Author : Krunal

Kapil Dev Nikhanj was India's finest all rounder in cricket. He was born on 6th January 1959 in Haryana. He was the former captain and new national team coach.

When Kapil was just 20, he set a new record of scoring 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets. He made this record within a period of one year and 109 days only. Kapil Dev started playing in the first class cricket in 1975, and the opportunity for him to play in a test match for the first time came in 1978 during Indian team's tour to Pakistan.

He also achieved the unique double of 4000 runs and 400 wickets, the first ever Indian player to do so. He also set the world record for taking the highest number of wickets (432) in test matches in February 1994. Indian government honoured him with the 'Padmabhushan' award. Kapil Dev has written his autobiography under the title 'By God's Decree'.

Biography

Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj (born 6 January 1959, Chandigarh), better known as Kapil Dev, is a former Indian cricketer who was regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game, and was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002. His most famous achievements were captaining India to their first and only World Cup title in 1983, and holding the record for the most Test match wickets, between 1994 and 1999. In 1991, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Records in Test cricket

By the end of 1983, Kapil already had about 250 Test wickets in just five years and looked well on his way to becoming one of the most prolific wicket-takers ever. However, following knee surgery in 1984, his bowling declined as he lost some of his majestic jump at the crease. He continued to be effective, if not devastating, for another ten years and became the second bowler ever to take 400 wickets in Test cricket in 1991-92. In early 1994, he became the highest Test wicket-taker in the world, breaking the record held by Sir Richard Hadlee. Kapil's record was broken by Courtney Walsh in 1999.

Kapil is the only player to have achieved the all-rounder's double of 4,000 Test runs and 400 Test wickets.

In retirement

Kapil retired from playing cricket in 1994. After spending a few years away from cricket, he was appointed coach of the Indian national cricket team in 1999 succeeding Anshuman Gaekwad. However, his tenure was not a success and he resigned from the post in 2000.

Since retirement, Kapil has also taken up the sport of golf. His autobiography, titled Straight to the Heart, was published in 2004 (ISBN 1403-92227-6).