Kapil Dev, a former Indian cricketer best remembered for leading his team to a World Cup triumph in 1983, is regarded as one of the finest cricketing all-rounders of all time. He was the Indian team’s main strike bowler for the majority of his career, and he was confident, personable, and very competent. With his tremendous swing, he used to bamboozle batsmen in his prime. Dev was not only good with the ball, but he was also good with the bat. He was a master at hooking and driving, and he frequently provided India with the critical runs they needed to win a match, even when the top-order failed to score. He was born into a middle-class Haryana family and took up cricket at an early age. He began his cricket career with the Haryana cricket team, eventually finding his way into the national squad due to his aggressive play and strong energy level. With his outstanding achievements, he cemented his place in the Indian team and was quickly promoted to captain. Despite being the underdogs, India went on to win the 1983 World Cup under his leadership.
Childhood and Adolescence
Ram Lal Nikhanj and his wife Raj Kumari have him. His father worked as a builder and a woodworker. His parents, who were originally from Rawalpindi, had relocated to India during the 1947 partition. He attended the DAV School before moving on to St. Edward’s School in Shimla. He began playing cricket as a schoolboy and was picked to play domestic cricket for Haryana.
Career of Kapil Dev
In November 1975, he made his Haryana debut against Punjab. He took six wickets and helped Haryana win by restricting the opposition to only 63 runs. In the 1976-77 season, he collected 8 wickets and scored 36 runs in one match against Jammu & Kashmir. In the same year, he had a 7/20 record against Bengal.
In a match against Services during the 1978-79 season, he grabbed his first 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket. He was selected for the Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Wills Trophy matches because to his exceptional performance.
He demonstrated his all-round talent by demonstrating his prowess with both the ball and the bat. Against Delhi in the 1979-80 season, he hit his first century, scoring 193 runs.
In October 1978, he made his test debut against Pakistan, but it took a few more matches for his effect to be known.
Dev scored his first century against a visiting West Indies team in 1979, collecting 126 runs in just 124 balls. He was also consistent with his bowling, taking 17 wickets in the series. With each match that he played, the cricketer improved. In 1979, he took his first 5-wicket haul against England at Edgbaston.
Kapil Dev established himself as India’s leading fast bowler during the Australian cricket team’s tour of India in 1979–80, capturing two five-wicket hauls and a total of 28 wickets in the series. When he guided India to two triumphs in the six-test series against Pakistan at home, his popularity skyrocketed. Kapil Dev was outstanding with both the bat and the ball. In the series, he took ten wickets and scored two half centuries, finishing with 32 wickets and 278 runs.
During the 1982-83 season, he was named captain and guided his side to the 1983 World Cup. India entered the competition as underdogs, but under the charismatic leadership of Kapil Dev, the team outperformed expectations and went on to win the World Cup by defeating the mighty West Indies in the final. He was retained as captain for the 1987 World Cup after his outstanding performance. India started well and advanced to the semi-finals, where they were defeated by England. Following this, Kapil Dev stepped down as captain.
His final World Cup was in 1992, when he was captained by Mohammad Azharuddin. He coached young bowlers like Javagal Srinath and Manoj Prabhakar as a senior bowler. With 434 wickets, he retired in 1994 as the highest wicket-taker of his era. In 1999, he was appointed coach of the Indian squad, although his tenure was short-lived. Following considerable controversy, he resigned in 2000.
Achievements & Awards
Kapil Dev is most remembered for leading India to victory in the 1983 World Cup. With a total of 434 wickets, he once held the world record for the most wickets taken in test cricket. In 1982, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honor. In 1991, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor. Kapil Dev has won numerous cricket honours, including the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century award in 2002.
Personal History and Legacy
In 1979, he met Romi Bhatia through a mutual acquaintance and fell in love with her. In 1980, the couple married. They were blessed with a daughter after several years of marriage. After quitting from cricket, he turned to golf. During an event hosted by the Delhi Urological Society, he pledged his organs. Manoj Prabhakar, a former teammate, accused him of being involved in a match rigging controversy. However, the case was dismissed by the courts due to a lack of evidence. The cricketer was severely harmed as a result of this occurrence.
Estimated Net Worth
Kapil Dev has a net worth of $30 million and is a former professional cricketer from India. In January 1959, Kapil Dev was born in Chandigarh, Punjab, India. In 1983, he led the Indian cricket team to victory in the Cricket World Cup. In 2002, Dev was awarded Indian Cricketer of the Century, and he is widely regarded as one of the finest cricketers of all time.
Trivia
This well-known Indian cricketer has appeared in Hindi films such as ‘Iqbal’ and ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi.’