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Soon we witnessed record-break Worldcup win of India in 1983 under Kapil Dev’s leadership, today legendary Kapil Dev is celebrating his 63 birthday.
All-rounder Kapil Dev was the first Indian captain to win the Men’s World Cup. He led India to the title in the 1983 edition when few gave them a chance. Dev played over 250 internationals, scoring over 9000 runs and picking close to 700 wickets. His 434 Test wickets are the most for an Indian fast bowler in the format.
Today, Kapil Dev has turned 63, on this occasion let’s take a look at his top-most achievements:
175* vs ZIM – ODI, 1983: This was one of the best innings in Indian cricket, and not just of the World Cup in 1983. Against Zimbabwe, India were 9 for 4 and then 17 for five. A defeat would have perhaps been curtains. Kapil Dev played one of the best innings in ODIs, smashing an unbeaten 175 off just 138 balls with 16 fours and six sixes. His effort helped India get to 266, which proved to be enough to defeat Zimbabwe by 31 runs.
9/83 vs WI – Test, 1983: On an under-prepared surface at India’s latest Test venue in Ahmedabad, Dev picked a record nine for 83 in the second innings against West Indies. The tourists were bowled out for 201 to set India a target of 242, which proved too much for the hosts on a crumbling track. Out of Dev’s nine wickets, six were picked in a twenty-over unchanged spell.
Best figures in an innings by a captain
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First Indian captain to win a world title, legendary all-rounder Kapil still holds the record of bowling the best-ever figures by a captain in Test cricket. In a 1983 Test match between the West Indies and hosts India, the iconic cricketer bowled 30.3 overs and bagged nine wickets. Kapil's 9 for 83 against the Windies at Ahmedabad are the best figures in an innings by a Test captain.
Retired as highest wicket-taker in Tests
The former Team India captain was the most successful bowler when he bid farewell to the longest and oldest format of the game. Kapil entered his name in the history books when he surpassed Richard Hadlee's record tally of 431 Test wickets. Kapil became the all-time leading wicket-taker in the 1993-94 season at Kanpur's Green Park. Kapil played his last Test match against New Zealand at Seddon Park in 1994.
Never run out in his entire Test career
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Kapil was also one of the fastest runners between the wickets during his career. The celebrated cricketer batted for India in 184 Test innings and was never adjudged run out in his entire career.
Only player to score 5,000 runs and take 400 wickets
One of Kapil's unbreakable records is his feat of amassing more than 5,000 runs and taking 400-plus wickets in the longest format. In his decorated career for India, Kapil played 131 Test matches from 1978 to 1994. The prolific batsman accumulated 5,248 runs for India in the longest format.