KAPIL DEV (INDIA)

Introduction:

Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj (born 6 January 1959) is a former Indian cricketer. He captained the Indian cricket team which won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002, Kapil Dev is one of the greatest all rounders of all time. He was also India's national cricket coach for 10 months between October 1999 and August 2000. Kapil Dev was a right arm pace bowler noted for his graceful action and potent outswinger, and was India's main strike bowler for most of his career. He also developed a fine inswinging 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. Nicknamed The Haryana Hurricane, he represented the Haryana cricket team in domestic cricket. He retired in 1994, holding the world record for the most number of wickets taken in Test cricket, a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. At the time, he was also India's highest wicket taker in both major forms of cricket, Tests and ODIs. He is the only player in the history of cricket to have taken more than 400 wickets ''434 wickets'' and scored more than 5,000 runs in Tests, making him one of the greatest all rounders to have played the game. On 8 March 2010.

Personal Life:

Kapil Dev was born as Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj to Ram Lal Nikhanj, a building and timber contractor and his wife Raj Kumari in Chandigarh on 6 January 1959. His parents had migrated from Rawalpindi during the Partition of India.Kapil Dev was a student at D.A.V. School and joined Desh Prem Azad in 1971. Kapil Dev was introduced to Romi Bhatia by a common friend in 1979 and proposed to her in 1980. The couple married in 1980 and had a daughter, Amiya Dev, on 16 January 1996. After retirement from cricket in 1994, Kapil Dev took up golf. Kapil Dev was the only Asian founding member of Laureus Foundation in 2000. Ian Botham and Viv Richards were the other two cricketers on the founding member council of 40.Steve Waugh was added to the Academy members in 2006 when it was expanded from 40 to 42. He 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. He pledged his organs during an event organized by Delhi Urological Society on January 31, 2014 at the Airport Authority of India, Officers Club, New Delhi.

Career:

Kapil Dev made his Test cricket debut in Faisalabad, Pakistan on 16 October 1978. Although his match figures were unimpressive, the numbers did not convey any measure of Kapil Dev's contribution in the match. With his speed and bounce, he brought glee to the Indian players as the Pakistani batsmen were startled with bouncers that struck their helmets on more than one occasion. Kapil Dev also captured his maiden wicket of Sadiq Mohammad with his trademark outswinger. He 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, although India lost the match and the series 2-0. In the ensuing 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, his first outside the sub-continent. Kapil Dev picked up his first 5 wicket haul and all of England's wickets, although 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. His 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. 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 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 meagre 143 runs and Kapil Dev virtually ruled out with a groin injury. When Australia finished the fourth day at 18/3, Kapil Dev willed himself to play the final day with pain killing injections and removed the dangerous Australia middle order. Kapil Dev 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. 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 honours. England saw more of Kapil Dev in the ensuing series at home against the Indian cricket team in the 1982 season when he 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 and Mohinder Amarnath were 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. Captain 1983 World Cup Champions ''1982-1984''

Kapil Dev debuted as India's captain in the 1982-83 season against Sri Lanka(before the Pakistan tour) when Gavaskar was rested. His first assignment as regular captain was the tour of West Indies, where the biggest accomplishment was a lone ODI victory. Kapil Dev(72) and Gavaskar (90) led India to a huge score 282/5 in 47 overs and Kapil Dev's 2 wickets aided India to restrict West Indies for 255 and a victory that Indian cricketers claim gave them the confidence to face the West Indies team in 1983 Cricket World Cup. Overall, Kapil Dev had a good series in West Indies as he scored a century to save the second test match as well as picking up 17 wickets ''Average 24.94''.

Bowling Style:

Kapil Dev already had about 250 Test wickets in just five years and looked well on his way to becoming one of the most prolific wicket takers ever. However, his bowling declined following knee surgery in 1984, as he lost some of his majestic jump at the crease. Despite this setback, he never missed playing a single test or one day game on fitness grounds (save for his disciplinary ouster in the 3rd test at Calcutta during the 1984/85 series against England). He continued to be effective, if not devastating, for another ten years and became the second bowler ever to take 400 wickets in Test cricket in 1991-92 when he took Mark Taylor's wicket in a series versus Australia in Australia. In that Australian tour he took 25 wickets.

Territorial Army:

Kapil Dev joined the Indian Territorial Army and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel by General Deepak Kapoor On 24 September 2008. He joined as an officer.

Business:

Kapil Dev picked up 5% stake in Zicom Electronics. Kapil Dev owns the Captain'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 Dillagi... Yeh Dillagi, Iqbal, Chain Khuli ki Main Khuli and Mujhse Shadi Karogi.

Kapil Dev has been actively courted by Indian businesses during and after his cricketing days as brand ambassador for their products because of the charisma that personifies the cricketer. Though not the first Indian cricketer to endorse brands, he was the first star brand on Indian Television with his Palmolive ka jawab nahin ''Translation Palmolive has no match''. He also appears consistently on Headlines Today as a guest speaker.

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