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Kapil Dev represented India in 131 Tests and 225 ODIs. He scalped 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs in the longest format of the game. In ODIs, he picked 253 wickets and aggregated 3783 runs.
Legendary Indian captain Kapil Dev ranks among the best fast-bowling all-rounders India has ever produced. (Images: therealkapildev/Instagram)
Happy Birthday Kapil Dev: Legendary Indian captain Kapil Dev celebrates his 66th birthday today, January 6. The Chandigarh-born cricketer ranks among the best fast-bowling all-rounders India has ever produced. He was especially known for his ability to swing the ball both ways while hitting the right length.
Kapil Dev reached the pinnacle of his career in 1983 when he led India to their maiden World Cup win. He became the coach of the Indian team in 1999 but stepped down merely after 10 months due to a series of poor results.
Today, on the special occasion of Kapil Dev’s birthday, let’s look back at his illustrious career
Kapil Dev’s Career Stats & Numbers
- Kapil Dev represented India in 131 Tests and 225 ODIs.
- He scalped 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs in the longest format of the game.
- In ODIs, he picked 253 wickets and aggregated 3783 runs.
- Kapil Dev scored nine centuries across formats and claimed 20 four-fors, 24 fifers and two 10-wicket hauls.
- Apart from winning the 1983 ODI World Cup, Kapil Dev secured two Asia Cup titles (in 1988 and 1991) as the Indian skipper.
Kapil Dev’s Top 3 Batting Performances
175 not-out vs Zimbabwe, 1983
Kapil Dev’s most memorable knock came during India’s historic World Cup campaign in 1983. With India reeling at 17/5 against Zimbabwe, Kapil Dev stepped up to score an unbeaten 175-run knock. His knock laced with 16 boundaries and six sixes helped India win the crucial game by 31 runs.
163 vs Sri Lanka, 1986
Three years after the World Cup triumph, Kapil Dev produced the best Test score of his career against Sri Lanka in Kanpur. He struck 163 runs in just 165 deliveries, hitting 19 boundaries and one six.
129 vs South Africa, 1992
During the third Test of the India-South Africa series in 1992, Kapil Dev put up another one-man show when his team was struggling at 31/6. He scored 129 runs in the second innings. His knock comprised 14 fours and one maximum.
Kapil Dev’s Top 3 Bowling Performances
9/83 vs West Indies, 1983
Kapil Dev registered one of the best bowling spells of his career during a home Test series against the West Indies in 1983. He scalped nine wickets in the second innings, dismissing legends like Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd.
8/106 vs Australia, 1985
Kapil Dev appeared in sublime form during a tour of Australia in 1985. In the Test series opener, he scalped eight wickets in the first innings. Batters like Geoff Marsh and Allan Border also fell victim to the Indian all-rounder.
8/85 vs Pakistan, 1983
Pakistan had to face Kapil Dev ripped through the Pakistani batting unit during a Test match in 1983. In the first innings of the match, the India legend took eight wickets, dismissing the likes of Javed Miandad and Imran Khan. He finished with figures of 8/85 and the match ended in a draw.
Kapil Dev’s Career Lows & Highs
The 1983 World Cup triumph remains the main highlight of Kapil Dev’s international career. A match-defining performance by Mohinder Amarnath helped India beat the West Indies by 43 in the final at Lord’s.
Post the World Cup, Kapil Dev was removed from his role as the captain due to a string of poor performances.
Another low point came during his coaching tenure. Former cricketer Manoj Prabhakar had accused Kapil Dev of fixing a match against Pakistan in 1994. This led the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to form a special committee to evaluate the situation. Justice Chandrachud, in his report, concluded that there was no evidence to support Prabhakar’s claims.
Kapil Dev’s Famous Quotes On Current Cricketers
Virat Kohli: “Virat Kohli is one of the best cricketers we have seen in our country. If you put the top four batsmen, he will be there.”
Rohit Sharma: “He doesn’t have to prove himself. He has done this for many, many years, so let’s not doubt somebody.”
Jasprit Bumrah: “Bumrah is 1000 times better than me. These young boys are far better than us.”
Hardik Pandya: “Hardik is a great athlete. Hardik has made us so proud but the only thing is that he has to look after himself.”
MS Dhoni: “I think whatever he has done (for Indian cricket), he’s done a great job. But I think the bad part is we are expecting the same 20-year-old Dhoni (from his older version), which is not going to work.”
Kapil Dev’s Filmography
Since retiring from cricket, Kapil Dev has featured in multiple Bollywood films such as Dillagi…Yeh Dillagi (1994), Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), Iqbal (2005), Chain Kuli Ki Main Kuli (2007), Double XL (2022) and Lal Salaam (2024). Kapil Dev also made a cameo appearance in his biopic “83″ (2021) where Ranveer Singh portrayed his character.
- Location :
Chandigarh, India
