Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj born 6 January 1959, Chandigarh, better known as Kapil Dev, is a former Indian cricketer. He captained the Indian cricket team in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, which India won. Kapil Dev was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002.
Personal life
He was introduced to Romi Bhatia by a common friend in 1979 and proposed to her in 1980. Kapil Dev married Romi in 1980 and the couple have a daughter Amiya Dev on 4th February 1997.
Captain: 1983 World Cup Champions (1982–1984)
Kapil Dev entered the World Cup with an ordinary individual record – 32 Matches, 608 Runs (Average: 21), 34 wickets. India’s solitary victory in the previous two World Cups was against East Africa in 1975. Riding on Yashpal Sharma (89 Runs), Roger Binny and Ravi Shastri (3 wickets each), India inflicted the West Indies’ first-ever defeat in the World Cup. Following a victory against Zimbabwe, India lost the next two matches – Australia (despite Kapil Dev’s best career figures of 5/43) and West Indies. India now needed victories against Australia and Zimbabwe to advance to semi-finals.
India faced Zimbabwe at Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells on 18 June 1983 under overcast conditions. India won the toss and elected to bat. Disaster struck as the top order started a procession back to the dressing room as Sunil Gavaskar (0), Kris Srikkanth (0), Mohinder Amarnath (5) and Sandeep Patil (1) leaving India at a precarious 9/4 that turned to 17/5 when Yashpal Sharma (9) was dismissed. Batting with the lower order batsmen, Kapil Dev stabilized the side with a 60-run partnership with Roger Binny (22 runs) and a 62-run partnership with Madan Lal. When Syed Kirmani walked in at 140/8, Kapil Dev had scored his half-century and went on to score his century off 100 balls. Together with Kirmani (22 runs), Kapil put on an unbeaten 126 runs for the 9th wicket – a current world record. Kapil Dev finished not out with 175 runs off 138 balls, an innings that included 16 boundaries and 6 sixes. The innings figures in the Top 10 ODI Batting Performances compiled by Wisden in February 2002 at No. 4. India won the match by 31 runs. After a win against Australia, India entered the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals India faced the English cricket team. Kapil Dev helped curtail the lower-order after England lost regular wickets to Roger Binny and Mohinder Amarnath. Kapil took 3 wickets as India limited England to 213 and the middle order of Mohinder Amarnath (46 runs), Yashpal Sharma (61), Sandeep Patil (51*) ensured victory and entry into the finals to take on the mighty West Indies cricket team who were looking for a hat-trick of World Cup titles.
West Indies restricted India for 183 runs, with only Kris Srikkanth (38 runs) providing some scoring relief. Despite losing Gordon Greenidge, West Indies steadied their innings to 57/2 on the back of quick scoring by Viv Richards and looked comfortable. Richards played one too many aggressive shots when he skied a pull shot from Madan Lal that Kapil caught at deep square leg after running for over 20 yards. The catch is attributed as the turning point in the 1983 WC Final and is regarded as one of the finest in ODI Cricket. West Indies collapsed from 50/1 to 76/6 and finally were bowled out for 140 with Kapil picking up the wicket of Andy Roberts. Kapil Dev had upset Clive Lloyd’s West Indies to win their maiden and to-date only World Cup
Records
Test cricket
In early 1994, he became the highest Test wicket-taker in the world, breaking the record held by Sir Richard Hadlee. Kapil’s record was broken by Courtney Walsh in 1999.
Kapil is the only player to have achieved the all-rounder’s double of 4,000 Test runs and 400 Test wickets.
ODI cricket
In 1988, Kapil overtook Joel Garner to become the highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket. His final career tally of 253 wickets remained a record until it was broken by Wasim Akram in 1994.
According to the ICC cricket ratings for all-rounders in ODI cricket, Kapil’s peak rating of 631 is the highest rating ever achieved. He reached this mark on 22 March 1985 after a World Series final against Pakistan in Australia.
Awards
1979–80 – Arjuna Award
1982 – Padma Shri
1983 – Wisden Cricketer of the Year
1991 – Padma Bhushan
2002 – Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century
Business
In 2005, Kapil Dev picked up 5% stake in Zicom Electronics.
Kapil Dev has written three autobiographical works. By God’s Decree came out in 1985 and Cricket my style in 1987. He released his most recent autobiography, titled Straight from the Heart in 2004.
Kapil Dev owns the Kapil’s Eleven (2006) restaurants in Chandigarh and Patna. He also owns the Kaptain’s Retreat Hotel(1983; renovated and reopened in 2002) in Chandigarh.
Kapil Dev established a company Dev Musco Lighting Pvt Limited in partnership with Musco Lighting to install floodlights in major stadiums and sports venues in India. Floodlight projects include PCA Stadium, GCA Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, Barabati Stadium, Sector 16 Stadium.
Kapil Dev has made cameo appearances in the films Iqbal, Chain Khuli ki Main Khuli and Mujhse Shadi Karogi.
Joining Territorial Army
On September 24, 2008 Kapil Dev joined the Indian Territorial Army and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel by General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of the Army Staff.
