Kapil Dev Biography

Born: January 6, 1959, Chandigarh

Height: 1.83 m

Spouse: Romi Bhatia (m. 1980)

Education: D.A.V. School, Chandigarh

Children: Amiya Dev

Awards: Arjuna Award for Cricket

Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj (born 6 January 1959), better known as Kapil Dev, 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 was also India's national cricket coach for 10 months between October 1999 and August 2000.

Kapil 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, Kapil Dev was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Early 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

Bowling style

By the end of 1983, Kapil 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.

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 (72) and Gavaskar (90) led India to a huge score – 282/5 in 47 overs and Kapil'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).

1983 World Cup Performance

Kapil 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, Royal 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 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 stabilised 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 world record that stood unbroken for 27 years (10000 days), and 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.Unfortunately this match was not covered by any channel due to a BBC strike. After a win against Australia, India entered the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals India faced the English cricket team. Kapil helped curtail the lower-order after England lost regular wickets to Roger Binny and Mohinder Amarnath. He 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 victoryand 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 running backwards. 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 India's maiden World Cup and he led from the front with 303 runs (Average: 60.6), 12 wickets (Average: 20.41) and 7 catches in 8 matches – a truly all-round performance.

Post World Cup

After the World Cup, India hosted the West Indies cricket team and felt their fury as the tourists won the Test series 3–0 and the ODI Series 6–0. Kapil Dev achieved his best test bowling performance in a loss at Motera Stadium, Ahmedabad with a return of 9/83.His bowling performance in the test and ODI series was let down by his poor batting performance. The selectors ended the Kapil's reign by reappointing Gavaskar as captain in early 1984.

Difficult captaincy

Kapil was reappointed captain in March 1985, and guided India on a Test series win over England on their tour in 1986. This period saw one of the most famous matches played during his reign, the second Tied Test, in which he was named joint-man of the match with Australian batsman Dean Jones.

Kapil was retained as captain for the 1987 Cricket World Cup. In their first match, Australia scored 268 against India. However, after the close of innings, Kapil Dev agreed with the umpires that the score should be increased to 270 as one boundary during the innings had been mistakenly signalled as a four and not a six. In their reply, India scored 269 falling short of Australia's score by one run. In the Wisden Cricketer's Almanack, it was reported that "Kapil Dev's sportsmanship proved the deciding factor in a close-run match". India went on to reach the semi-final of the 1987 World Cup, where they lost to England. Kapil faced the blame for India's defeat as he holed out to deep mid-wicket triggering a collapse that led to the unexpected loss. He did not captain India again, even though he was the Vice-captain for India's tour to Pakistan in 1989.

The captaincy period was on the whole a difficult one for him as it was mired with reports of differences with Gavaskar, as well as his own inconsistent form as a bowler. However, both men have since insisted that these reports were exaggerated.Above all the controversy, Kapil's performance was better when he was the Captain, than as a player underline that, he enjoyed and suited captaincy.

Personal life

He 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 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 (ISBN 1-4039-2227-6).

Business Interests

In 2005, Kapil picked up 5% stake in Zicom Electronics

Kapil 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 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 has made cameo appearances in the films Iqbal, Chain Khuli ki Main Khuli and Mujhse Shadi Karogi

Endorsements

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. Other endorsments include:

Palmolive Shaving cream

BSA-SLR bicycles

Hero Honda bikes

Hajmola – 1995

Crocin Pain Relief – 2005.

Boost (1980s & 1990s)

Sony SET Max – 2002.

Birla Sun-Life Insurance – 2006

Chadha Group – 2006

Kinetic – 2002

Eastman Group – 2007

Standard Chartered – 2003

Rado – 2000

Jaypee Greens – 2002

Omaxe Construction – 2003

Haier – 2007

Idea Cellular – 2011

Rasna Yorker – 2000

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.

Kapil holds the record for the most innings in a complete career (184) without being run out.

He is the youngest test cricketer to take 300 wickets( 27 years 2days)

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.

Achievements

Awards

1979–80 – Arjuna Award

1982 – Padma Shri

1983 – Wisden Cricketer of the Year

1991 – Padma Bhushan

2002 – Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century

2010 – ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

Career statistics

Competition		Test		ODI		FC		LA
Matches		131		225		275		309
Runs scored		5248		3783		11356		5461
Batting average		31.05		23.79		32.91		24.59
100's/50's		27-Aug		14-Jan		18/56		23-Feb
Top score		163		175*		193		175*
Balls bowled		27740		11202		48853		14947
Wickets		434		253		835		335
Bowling average		29.64		27.45		27.09		27.34
5 wickets in innings		23		1		39		2
10 wickets in match		2		n/a		3		n/a
Best bowling		Sep-83		May-43		Sep-83		May-43
Catches/stumpings		64/–		71/–		192/–		99/–