Kapil Dev is an Indian cricketer and the greatest pace bowler in his country’s history. He is the only cricketer to have scored over 5,000 runs and taken over 400 wickets in a Test (international match) cricket.
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Kapil Dev
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Dev in 2013
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| Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Kapil Dev Nikhanj
6 January 1959 |
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| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Romi Dev (m. 1980) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | The Haryana Hurricane, Kaps | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards |
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| Cricket information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right arm fast-medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut | 16 October 1978 vs. Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 19 March 1994 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut | 1 October 1978, v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 17 October 1994 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1975–1992 | Haryana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1983 | Northamptonshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1985 | Worcestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Head coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Dev captained the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup, becoming the first Indian captain to win the Cricket World Cup. He is still the youngest captain (at 24) to win the World Cup for any team.He retired in 1994, as the first player to take 200 ODI wickets, and holding the world record for the highest number of wickets taken in Test cricket, a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. Kapil Dev held the record for the highest individual score (175*) by a batsman batting at number 5 or lower in ODIs until 2023, when Glenn Maxwell superseded it. He was also a part of the Indian squad, which won the 1985 Cricket World Championship.
After retiring, he coached the Indian national team between September 1999 and September 2000. In 1982, Dev was awarded the Padma Shri, and in 1991, the Padma Bhushan. In 2002, Wisden named him the Indian Cricketer of the Century. On 11 March 2010, Dev was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. In 2013, he received the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honour conferred by the BCCI on a former player.
Early life
Kapil Dev Nikhanj was born in Chandigarh on 6 January 1959 into a Punjabi Hindu family of Ram Lal Nikhanj, a teak merchant, and his wife, Rajkumari. His family moved to Fazilka after the partition and eventually moved to Chandigarh. His paternal family is from Montgomery (now known as Sahiwal), and his mother was born in Pakpattan but raised in Okara. Both are now in Punjab, Pakistan. Dev was a student at D. A. V. College.
Cricket Career
- Test Debut: October 16, 1978, against Pakistan in Faisalabad.
- ODI Debut: October 1, 1978, against Pakistan in Quetta.
Playing Style
- Kapil Dev was a fast-medium bowler with smooth action. He was known for his ability to swing the ball both ways.
- As a batsman, he was an aggressive ball striker and played memorable knocks throughout his career.
Key Achievements
- Captaincy:
- Kapil Dev captained India to its first-ever Cricket World Cup victory in 1983.
- His all-round performance in the tournament, mainly the iconic 175* against Zimbabwe, is celebrated as one of the finest innings in cricket history.
- Bowling Records:
- In 1994, he became the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, surpassing Richard Hadlee with 434 wickets.
- He remains the only cricketer to have scored over 5,000 Test runs and taken more than 400 wickets.
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year: Awarded in 1983.
- Domestic Cricket: I played for Haryana and was instrumental in many of their victories.
Post-Retirement
- Coaching: Kapil Dev served as the coach of the Indian cricket team from 1999 to 2000.
- Business Ventures: He has been involved in various business ventures, including hospitality and sports.
- Autobiography: Straight from the Heart (2004).
- Media Presence: Kapil has appeared as a cricket analyst and commentator.
Awards and Honors
- Padma Shri (1982), India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
- Padma Bhushan (1991): India’s third-highest civilian award.
- ICC Cricket Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2010.
Legacy
Kapil Dev revolutionized Indian cricket, inspiring generations of cricketers. His leadership and skill helped elevate Indian cricket to a global stage. The 1983 World Cup victory is often a turning point in Indian sports history.
Personal Life
- Spouse: Married to Romi Bhatia in 1980.
- Children: They have a daughter, Amiya Dev.
