Name Hindi: कपिल देव / Gender Man
Kapil Dev: A Legend of Indian Cricket
Born on January 6, 1959 as Kapil Dev Nikhanj in Chandigarh, India, Kapil Dev became one of the finest all-rounders in the history of cricket. He was a right-hand batman and right-arm pace bowler known for his graceful batting and potent swing bowling.
The Early Years
His talent shone from an early age when he played school cricket at DAV School in Sector 8. His passion for the sport soon led him to make the state U-16 team. Despite making his debut at a young age, he quickly made headlines with his stellar performances.
Career Highlights
- In November 1975, Dev made his first-class cricket debut for Haryana against Punjab.
- He consistently performed well in domestic cricket which lead to his selection in the national team within two years.
- Dev’s international career began during the Pakistan tour in 1978 where he secured six wickets to make himself known.
- A year later, he achieved international recognition by taking two five-wicket hauls and scoring a fighting century against Pakistan in Delhi.
- In June 1983, under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, India won its first ever World Cup title.
- He took over 400 test wickets and scored over 5000 runs – becoming only the second player worldwide achieving this double-feat after Sir Ian Botham.
- Awarded Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1983 following India’s World Cup win..
- In 1994, he became the highest Test wicket-taker in the world.
- Dev retired from cricket in 1995 after a match against New Zealand.
Life After Retirement
Kapil Dev entered into sports commentary and business following his illustrious cricket journey. He has also been quite active in philanthropic activities, particularly for the upliftment of underprivileged children. In 2002, he was named India’s national cricket coach but stepped down a year later due to alleged controversy.
Awards and Honours
Over the years, Kapil Dev has received several accolices honoring his contributions to Indian Cricket, some of which are as follows:
- In 1982, awarded Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award.
- In 1991 he was honoured with Padma Bhushan, country’s third highest civilian award.
- He was included in ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010.
- In September 2020, he has been conferred with C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by BCCI.
His inspiring spirit continues to influence budding cricketers not only in India but across the globe.
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Kapil Dev: The Man Who Changed Indian Cricket Forever
No discussion about Indian cricket is complete without mentioning Kapil Dev. His achievements have laid the foundation for future successes and continue to inspire generations of cricketers around the world. An iconic figure whose impact continues to be felt on and off-field till date.
