Fondly called Kaps, Kapil Dev was born on January 6, 1959 in Chandigarh, India. Named as The Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2002, he was a fast medium bowler and a hard-hitting middle order batsman. Making an impressive debut for Haryana in 1975 against Punjab with a six-wicket haul, he finished the season with 121 wickets in 30 matches. Kapil Dev played his first Test match against Pakistan in Faisalabad on October 16, 1978. However, it wasn’t a great one as he could take only one wicket in the drawn match. The Pakistan batsmen were startled with his pace and bounce. He had struck them with bouncers that struck their helmets on many occasions in that match.
He had a long domestic career because he played for Haryana for 17 years and was a constant member of the team from 1975 to 1992. Being the youngest Test player to achieve the all-round double of 100 wickets and 1,000 runs, Kapil Dev was never run out in his 184 Test innings long career. Being a right-arm pace bowler he was noted for his graceful action and potent outswinger, and was India’s main strike bowler for most of his career. Developing into a fine inswinging yorker during the 1980s, he used it very effectively against tail-enders. As a batsman, he was a natural striker of the ball who could hook and drive effectively. A naturally aggressive player, he often helped India in difficult situations by taking the attack to the opposition.
A true patriot, he joined the Indian Territorial Army as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel on September 24, 2008. But what shows his love for the nation is the feat of India in the 1983 World Cup. 303 runs, 12 wickets and 7 catches in 8 matches – this was Kapil Dev’s statistics in the 1983 World Cup. His extraordinary knock of 175 runs against Zimbabwe saved India from being ousted from the quarter-finals. It was one of the biggest moments of glory in Indian cricket and brought a major turnaround for the sport in the country.
Being an aggressive batsman he had a penchant for hitting sixes frequently. He was involved in a notable incident during the Lord’s Test match of 1990 when he hit off-spinner Eddie Hemmings for four sixes in succession to take India past the follow-on target. He was a very fit player. Notably he never missed a Test because of injury or fitness reasons in a career that spanned 131 Tests spread over 16 years.
In his autobiographical works By ‘God’s Decree’ (1985), ‘Cricket my style’ (1987) and ‘Straight from the Heart’ (2004), he gives a detailed account of his career and personal life! In the latest movie 83, Ranveer Singh portrays the inspiring journey of the legend and celebrates his achievements magnificently.
