Name : Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj.Nick name : Kapil Paaji.
Date of Birth : 6 January, 1959.
Place of Birth : Chandigarh, India.
Batting Style : Right Handed Batsman.
Bowling Style : Right Arm Fast Medium.
Role : All Rounder.
TEST Debut : vs. Pakistan in 1978(1st October).
ODI Debut : vs. Pakistan in 1978(16th October).
Playing Teams : Haryana (1975-92), Worcestershire (1983-84), Northampton shire (1981-83).
ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL CAREER ::
Matches : 225.
Runs : 3,783
Best : 175*against Zimbabwe in 1983.
Average : 23.79(Bat)
100’s : 1
50’s : 14
Wickets : 253
Best figures : 5/43
Average : 27.45
5/10 wickets : 1/0
Catches : 71
TEST CAREER ::
Matches : 131
Runs : 5248
Best : 163
Average : 31.05(Bat)
100’s : 8
50’s : 27
Wickets : 434
Best figures : 9/83
Average : 29.64
5/10 wickets : 23/2
Catches : 64
Kapil’s Personal Information::
Kapil Dev is a former Indian cricketer regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders to have played cricket. Kapil Dev was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002 for captaining India to their maiden and only Cricket World Cup in 1983 and holding the record for the most Test match wickets between 1994 and 1999. Kapil Dev had a rather prosaic stint as India's national cricket coach for 10 months between October 1999 and August 2000.
Kapil Dev was born to Ram Lal Nikhanj and Raj Kumari Lajwanti (maiden name) on 6 January 1959. He was the sixth of seven siblings. Kapil's parents emigrated from a village near Rawalpindi during Partition. Ram Lal Nikhanj settled in Chandigarh and settled into a prosperous building and timber business. Kapil Dev was a student at D.A.V. School and in 1971 joined as a pupil to Desh Prem Azad. 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 has a daughter Amiya Dev who was born in 1996.
Kapil was a right-arm pace bowler noted for his graceful action and potent outswinger, and was India's main strike bowler throughout most of his career. He also developed a fine in swinging Yorker during the 1980s which he used very effectively against tail-enders. As a batsman he was a natural striker of the ball who could hook and drive effectively. A naturally aggressive player, he often helped India in difficult situations by taking the attack to the opposition. His nickname was “The Haryana Hurricane” he used to represent the Haryana cricket team.
Starting from his carrier ::
Kapil Dev made his debut for Haryana in November 1975 against their neighbors Punjab and impressed with a debut 6/39 innings haul, restricting Punjab to just 63 runs and helping Haryana to a victory. However, Kapil finished the season with only 12 wickets in 3 matches.
In the 1976-77 season opener against Jammu & Kashmir, he had a match haul of 8/36 to win the match for his team. While his contributions for the rest of the season were ordinary, Haryana qualified for the pre quarterfinals. Kapil Dev achieved his then best innings haul of 7/20 in just 9 overs in the second innings to skittle Bengal for 58 runs in fewer than 19 overs.
For the 1978-79 season, Haryana had a repeat encounter with Bengal in the pre-quarterfinal match after a lackluster bowling season from Kapil Dev (12 wickets from 4 matches), riding on the performance of the season's leading wicket-taker - Rajinder Kaul. Kapil Dev however scored 2 half-centuries in the group stage matches. In the pre-quarterfinal match, he showed his big-match attitude by taking a 5-wicket haul in the first innings. Poor batting by Haryana in the second innings meant Bengal could avenge their loss from 2 seasons back by scoring the required 161 runs for the loss of just 4 wickets.
In the 1979-80 season, Kapil Dev showed his batting talent with a maiden century against Delhi when he scored his career best 193. In the pre-quarterfinal match, where he captained Haryana for the first time against Uttar Pradesh, he took a five wicket haul in the second innings to advance to quarter finals where they lost to Karnataka.
Dev won his maiden and only Ranji Trophy championship. In the 1990-91 Ranji season, Haryana rode into the semi-finals on the back of the bowling performance of Chetan Sharma and the batting performance of Amarjit Kaypee. Kapil Dev took centre stage in the semi-final against Bengal where he led his team to a mammoth score of 605 runs by scoring 141 as well as taking 5 wickets.
The finals of the 1991 season will be remembered for the number of international cricketers who were part of the match with Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, Ajay Jadeja and Vijay Yadav turning up for Haryana and Bombay cricket team represented by Sanjay Manjrekar, Vinod Kambli, Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Chandrakant Pandit, Salil Ankola and Abey Kuruvilla. Deepak Sharma (199), Ajay Jadeja (94) and Chetan Sharma (98) helped Haryana to a score of 522 while Yogendra Bhandari (5 wickets) and Kapil Dev (3 wickets) restricted Bombay to 410 runs in the first innings. A crucial 41 from Kapil and top scorer Banerjee (60) took Haryana to 242 runs, setting Bombay a target of 355 runs. After the initial wickets, Vengsarkar (139) and Tendulkar (96) fought back for the Bombay team. After Tendulkar's dismissal, Haryana took the final 6 wickets for 102 runs and Vengsarkar and Bombay were stranded 3 runs short of the target.
International Career ::
Kapil Dev made his Test cricket debut in Faisalabad, Pakistan on 16 October 1978 and though his match figures were unimpressive, the numbers did not convey any measure of Kapil's contribution in the match. With his speed and bounce, he bought glee to the Indian players when Pakistani batsmen were startled with bouncers that clanged the helmet on more than one occasion. Kapil Dev also captured his maiden wicket of Sadiq Mohammad with his trademark outswinger Kapil Dev showcased his all-rounder talent when he scored India's fastest Test half-century off 33 balls and 2 sixes in each of the innings during the 3rd Test match at National Stadium, Karachi, though India lost the match and the series 2-0. In the ensuring series against a visiting West Indies team, he scored his maiden Test century (126) at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi in just 124 balls and had a steady bowling performance (17 wickets at 33.00). Ominous signs of Kapil Dev's liking for England showed up in the ensuring series, Kapil's first outside the sub-continent. Kapil Dev picked up his first 5-wicket haul and all of England's wickets, though it came at a huge cost (48 overs and 146 runs conceded) as England scored a mammoth 633 and won the match comfortably. Kapil Dev finished the series with 16 wickets though his batting haul of 45 runs (Average: 7.5) was unimpressive. Kapil Dev's debut in ODI Cricket happened in the earlier tour of Pakistan where his individual performance was ordinary and it stayed the same as both Kapil Dev and India had a poor campaign at the 1979 Cricket World Cup.
Kapil Dev established himself as India's premier fast bowler when he took two 5-wicket hauls and ended the home series against Australia with 28 wickets (Average: 22.32) and also 212 runs that included a half-century.[12] Kapil Dev gained fame in the 6-Test home series against Pakistan in the 1979-80 season when he led India to 2 victories against the visitors - once with the bat (69) at Wankhede Stadium, Bombay (Now Mumbai)[13] and the second time with bat and ball (10-wicket haul in match - 4/90 in the first innings and 7/56 in the second innings, 84 in 98 balls with his bat) at Chepauk, Madras (Now Chennai). Kapil Dev rates his all-round performance in this match as his best bowling effort in his career and his second innings figure of 7/56 was his best to-date. During the series, he also became the youngest Test player to achieve the all-round double of 100 Wickets and 1000 Runs and in 25 matches (although Ian Botham took just 21 matches to achieve the same feat) and finished the series with 32 wickets (Ave: 17.68) and 278 runs that included 2 fifties.
India's tour of Australia in 1980-81 had the looks of the familiar Indian series as India were 1-0 down and were defending a meager 143 runs and Kapil Dev virtually ruled out with a groin injury. When Australia finished the fourth day at 18/3, Kapil willed himself to play the final day with pain-killing injections and removed the dangerous Australia middle order. Kapil won the match for India with the innings bowling performance of 16.4-4-28-5, a bowling performance that figures in his five best bowling performance. During the Australian tour, he scored his first fifty in ODIs against New Zealand at Brisbane. Somehow India's Test cricket sensation was unable to adjust to ODI cricket and had a career start of 278 runs (Average: 17.38) and 17 wickets after 16 ODI matches.
A dismal New Zealand tour later, Kapil Dev was ready for the 1981-82 home series against England where his five-wicket haul won the first test at Wankhede Stadium, Bombay (Now Mumbai). Kapil Dev scored 318 runs (Average: 53, 1 century, 1 fifty) and took 22 wickets (2 5-wicket hauls) and walked away with the Man of the Series honors. England saw more of Kapil in the ensuing series at home against the Indian cricket team in the 1982 season when Kapil opened with a 5-wicket haul and 130 runs in a losing cause at Lord's. Kapil Dev finished the 3-match series with 292 runs (Ave: 73, 3 fifties) and 10 Wickets and bagged the Man of the Series again.
Facing Sri Lanka for the first time, Kapil Dev helped himself to a five-wicket haul to kick start the 1982-83 season. In the following tour to Pakistan, Kapil Dev along with Mohinder Amarnath was the only bright spots in a series dominated by rival all-rounder Imran Khan (40 wickets and 1 century). Kapil Dev took a 5/102 haul in the second Test at National Stadium, Karachi, 7/220 in the third Test at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad and 8/85 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore while he received little support from other team members. After this disastrous tour, Kapil Dev was made the captain of the Indian cricket team in place of Sunil Gavaskar.
Kapil’s Records in International Career::
· 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.
· 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.
Some Achievements of Kapil Dev ::
Awards ::
· 1979-80 - Arjuna Award
· 1982 - Padma Shri
· 1983 - Wisden Cricketer of the Year
· 1991 - Padma Bhushan
· 2002 - Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century
Test Match Awards ::
Man of Series Awards ::
# Series Season Series Performance
1 .England in India 1981/82 318 Runs (6 Matches, 8 Innings, 1x100, 1x50); 243.1-40-835-22 (2x5WI); 3 Catches
2 .India in England 1982 292 Runs (3 Matches, 3 Innings, 3x50); 133-21-439-10 (1x5WI)
3. West Indies in India 1983/84 184 Runs (6 Matches, 11 Innings); 203.-43-537-29 (2x5WI, 1x10WM); Catches
4. India in Australia 1985/86 135 Runs (3 Matches, 3 Innings, 1x50); 118-31-276-12 (1x5WI); 5 Catches
Man of the Match Awards::
S No Opponent Venue Season Match Performance::
1 .England Wankhede, Mumbai 1981/82 1st Innings: 38 (8x4); 22-10-29-1
2nd Innings: 46 (5x4); 13.2-0-70-5
2 .England Lord's, London 1992/93 1st Innings: 41 (4x4); 43-8-125-5
2nd Innings: 89 (13x4, 3x6); 10-1-43-3
3 .Pakistan Gadafi, Lahore 1982/93 1st Innings: 30.5-7-85-8
4 .Australia Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 1985/86 1st Innings: 38 (8x4); 38-6-106-8
2nd Innings: 3-1-3-0
5. England Lord's, London 1986 1st Innings: 1 Run; 31-8-67-1; 1 Catch
2nd Innings: 23*(4x4, 1x6); 22-7-52-4
6. Australia Chepauk, Chennai 1986/87 1st Innings: 119 (21x4);18-5-52-0; 2 Catches
2nd Innings: 1 Run; 1-0-5-0
7.Sri Lanka Barabati, Cuttack 1986/87 1st Innings: 60 Runs; 26-3-69-4; 2 Catches
2nd Innings: 16-4-36-1
8 .Pakistan National Stadium, Karachi 1989/90 1st Innings: 55 (8x4); 24-5-69-4
2nd Innings: 36-15-82-3
9.Joint MoM Award with Dean Jones in the tied Test Match
ODI Match Awards ::
Man of the Series ::
# Series (Opponents) Season Series Performance
1 Texaco Trophy (India in England ODI Series) 1982 107 (2 Matches & 2 Innings, 1x50); 20-3-60-0
2 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup (Australia, New Zealand) 1985/86 202 Runs (9 Innings); 20/391; 7 Catches
Man of the Match Awards::
S No Opponent Venue Season Match Performance 1 .New Zealand Woolloongabba, Brisbane 1980/81 75 (51b, 9x4, 3x6); 10-0-37-1; 1 Catch
2 .West Indies Albion Sports Complex, Berbice, Guyana 1982/83 72 (38b, 7x4, 3x6); 10-0-33-2; 2 Catches
3 .Zimbabwe Nevill Ground, Tunbridge Wells 1983 175* (138b, 16x4, 6x6); 11-1-32-1; 2 Catches
4 .England VCA Ground, Nagpur 1984/85 54 (41b, 3x4, 4x6); 10-1-42-1
5 .New Zealand Woolloongabba, Brisbane 1985/86 54* (53b, 5x4); 10-1-28-1
6. England Sharjah 1986/87 64 (54b, 5x4, 1x6); 8-1-30-1
7 .New Zealand Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore 1987/88 72* (58b, 4x4, 1x6); 10-1-54-0
8 .Zimbabwe Gujarat Stadium, Ahmedabad 1987/88 41* (25b, 2x4, 3x6), 10-2-44-2
9 .West Indies Sharjah 1989/90 41 (50b, 2x4, 1x6); 7.4-1-19-2
10 .New Zealand Basin Reserve, Wellington 1989/90 46 (38b, 4x4, 1x6); 9.5-1-45-2
11 .South Africa Kingsmead, Durban 1992/93 30 (37b, 5x4); 10-4-23-3.