Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj (born 6 January 1959), better known as Kapil Dev, is a former Indian cricketer. He captained the Indian cricket team which won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002, Kapil Dev is one of the greatest all-rounder’s of all time. He was also India’s national cricket coach for 10 months between October 1999 and August 2000. Kapil was a right-arm pace bowler noted for his graceful action and potent outswinger, and was India’s main strike bowler for most of his career. He also developed a fine inswinging yorker during the 1980s, which he used 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. Nicknamed The Haryana Hurricane, he represented the Haryana cricket team in domestic cricket. He retired in 1994, holding the world record for the most number of wickets taken in Test cricket, a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. At the time, he was also India’s highest wicket taker in both major forms of cricket, Tests and ODIs. He is the only player in the history of cricket to have taken more than 400 wickets (434 wickets) and scored more than 5,000 runs in Tests, making him one of the greatest all-rounder’s to have played the game. On 8 March 2010, Kapil Dev was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Early life:
Kapil Dev was born as Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj to Ram Lal Nikhanj, a progressive building contractor and his wife Raj Kumari in Chandigarh on 6 January 1959. His parents had migrated from Rawalpindi, Punjab during the Partition of India. Kapil Dev was a student at D.A.V. School and joined Desh Prem Azad in 1971.
Records:
Test cricket:
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.
Kapil holds the record for the most innings in a complete career (184) without being run out.
He is the youngest test cricketer to take 100 (21 years, 25 days), 200 (24 years, days) and 300 wickets(27 years, 2 days).
ODI cricket:
In 1988, Kapil overtook Joel Garner to become the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket. His final career tally of 253 wickets remained a record until it was broken by Wasim Akram in 1994.
According to the ICC cricket ratings for all-rounder’s in ODI cricket, Kapil’s peak rating of 631 is the highest rating ever achieved. He reached this mark on 22 March 1985 after a World Series final against Pakistan in Australia.
Achievements:
Awards:
197980 Arjuna Award
1982 Padma Shri
1983 Wisden Cricketer of the Year
1991 Padma Bhushan
2002 Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century
2010 ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
2013 – The 25 Greatest Global Living Legends In India by NDTV
2013 – CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement award(announced)
Career statistics:
Test
Matches: 131
Runs scored: 5248
100s/50s: 8/27
Top score: 163
ODI
Matches: 225
Runs scored: 3783
100s/50s: 1/14
Top score: 175*
