Kapil Dev

Achievements

• Youngest Test cricketer in the world who has taken 100, 200 and 300 wickets
• The Government of India conferred him with the "Arjuna Award" in 1979 for his outstanding performance and sincere contribution to the sport.
• Bestowed with "Padma Shri" award in 1982 for his distinguished performance in cricket
• Performed significantly to win the 1983 Cricket World Cup for the nation
• Entitled as the "Wisden Cricketer of the Year" in 1983 by the annual publication book "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack"
• Test matches Awards- Selected as "Man of the Series" four times in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985 and "Man of the Match" eight times in 1981, twice in 1982, 1985, thrice in 1986 and in 1989
• ODI Match Awards- Won the title of "Man of the Series" for Texaco Trophy in 1982 and the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup in 1985. He was also honoured with the "Man of the Match" award 11 times in between 1980-1992.
• Received the third highest civilian award "Padma Bhushan" in 1991 by the Government of India
• Became the highest Test wicket-taker in the world in 1994 and held the record till 1999
• Entitled as "Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century" by the annual publication book "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" in 2002
• Kapil's name was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010.
• Received the C.K.Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013
• He still holds the record of consecutively playing 184 Test innings in his entire career.

I never wanted to take autographs, always wanted to give them. To do this, you have to achieve something.

Kapil Dev is one of the best all-rounders, fast bowlers and a successful captain of the Indian cricket history, who led his team to win its first ever World Cup in 1983, held in England. Kapil is the only player in the history of the game who has taken 400 wickets with 4000 runs in Test events. He has led an example of sportsmanship throughout his professional career and proved that his love for cricket is both on and off the pitch. Indeed, he has lived cricket in each and every phase of life. Kapil's unparalleled performance comprised of various records that are hardly surpassed by others and some of them are still a hard nut to crack.

Photo Credits: Pinterest.com

Born in Chandigarh to Ram Lal Nikhanj, Kapil started training under the tutelage of Desh Prem Azad in 1971 and made a prolific debut in 1978. He soon became an ace player in Test format. However, his ODI career was also appreciable. In the Test series of 1979-80, when India played against Pakistan, Kapil aided his team to win two Tests, securing 278 runs and taking 32 wickets. Soon, he established himself as the youngest Indian player to take 100 wickets and 1000 runs in Tests. While playing his career’s third match, he scored the fastest half-century of the Indian cricket history in just 33 balls against Pakistan.

One of the most remarkable events of Kapil’s career was the 1983 World Cup where his personal best of 175 in 138 balls against Zimbabwe was considered as one of the most notable achievements of his career. His leadership led the team to the finals and ultimately won the first ever World Cup for India by defeating two times champion West Indies at the Lord's stadium.

Post the World Cup win, India hosted West Indies but unfortunately lost by 3-0 in Tests and by 5-0 in ODIs. Kapil failed to perform well with the bat but did well with the ball. After that series, the captaincy was handed over to Sunil Gavaskar. Kapil regained the captaincy in 1987 and led the Indian team to the semifinals of the World Cup successfully but lost the final to England. After the defeat, Kapil stepped down as the captain.

Photo Credits: Storypick.com

In 1990, during a Test match that was held in Lord's Stadium, Kapil gave a notable performance by hitting four consecutive sixes, bowled by Eddie and bowled extremely well in his last World Cup, held in 1992 and bid farewell in 1994. Post his retirement, Kapil coached the Indian cricket team for a year (1999-2000), but due to team’s bad performances and match-fixing accusations, he wisely stepped back from the post.

Kapil was honoured as the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002. He also played a vital role of a bowling consultant. In 2006, he was nominated for the chairmanship of the National Cricket Academy and became the chairman of the executive board of the Indian cricket league in the following year. Kapil joined the Indian Territorial Army in 2008 as an honorary officer. Kapil Dev’s passion and enthusiasm for the game has made him one of the inspirational personalities for the young generation. We all wish him good health and prosperous life ahead.

Apart from education, you need good health, and for that, you need to play sports.

Credits: YouTube