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Kapildev Ramlal Nikhanj: "Player of the century"
Kapildev Ramlal Nikhanj
Born: 6 January 1959, Chandigarh
Major Teams: Haryana, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire, India.
Known As: Kapil Dev
Batting Style: Right Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right Arm Fast Medium
Kapil Dev named Indian player of century
Wisden's decision to name all-rounder Kapil Dev as India's player of the century has been welcomed by the country's former Test players.
Kapil, the ex-captain who led India to their lone World Cup triumph in 1983, was picked ahead of former batsman Sunil Gavaskar and modern-day icon Sachin Tendulkar by a 35-member panel comprising international commentators and former players.
His peers said Kapil was the right choice because he could alter the result of a match single-handedly.
"I don't think anyone has won more matches for India individually," said former Test spinner Maninder Singh on Wednesday.
"He could change the nature of his game with his bowling, batting, fielding and captaincy. That puts him ahead of everyone else."
Kapil took 434 wickets at 29.64 apiece and scored 5,248 runs at an average of 31.05 in Tests.
He made his debut for India as a 19-year-old in the 1978-79 season against Pakistan. He played 131 Tests and 225 one-dayers in a career spanning over 16 years.
"I am very happy for Kapil, he richly deserved the award," said Madan Lal, a member of Kapil's World Cup-winning team and now a national selector.
Career Test and ODI's Statistics
Kapil is the only cricketer in history to score more than 5,000 and take more than 400 wickets in Tests. His mark of 434 wickets stood as a record until West Indian Courtney Walsh surpassed it just two years ago.
"It's a very intelligent decision by the panel to name Kapil," said former Test opener Chetan Chauhan.
"Gavaskar, Kapil and Sachin were the frontrunners but because of his ability to contribute with both the bat and ball they have gone with Kapil."
Kapil's most memorable knock was an unbeaten 175 in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in England, where he rescued India from 17 for five to 266 in 60 overs.
Kapil has claimed 434 Test and 253 One-day wickets in 15 years. He surpassed Richard Hadlee of New Zealand to become the world's highest wicket taker. Walsh of West Indies recently beat him to the world record.
Ever since he broke on the cricketing scene in 1978 as a young fast bowler, Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj has become a household name in Indian cricket.
Kapil Dev was the first genuine fast bowler on Indian soil and toiled hard under conditions not very conducive for his type of bowling to become the highest wicket taker in the world.
West Indian war horse Courtney Walsh recently surpassed Kapil's great effort of 434 Test wickets. Though Kapil reached the pinnacle of glory in Test cricket, his high water mark was winning the World Cup in 1983. He was named as the Wisden "Cricketer of the Year" in 1983.
Kapil began his career at Pakistan under the captaincy of Bishen Singh Bedi in 1978. He never looked back, emerging as the strike bowler for India.
Kapil made his Test and Limited Overs International (LOI) debuts in Pakistan during India's tours of 1978-79. Both his debuts were not very impressive in terms of wickets taken.
The tall and well-built Haryana 'Jat' showed that he had the potential to develop into a world-beater. The innings against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup stands out for his ability to win matches single-handedly.
With India tottering at 17 for five, the country's chances of making further progress in the championship looked very bleak. But Kapil scored a marvelous unbeaten 175 (a record which stood for a long time) to take India through to World Cup triumph.
His was a character of grit and determination. Kapil proved in no uncertain terms that hard work and toil definitely paid their reward. With physical fitness being high on his agenda, Kapil was never sidelined due to injury.
Kapil made his Test debut against Pakistan at Faisalabad during the match played between October 16 and 21, 1978. He returned with just one wicket in the Test match, which ended in a draw.
He bid adieu to Test cricket at Hamilton, New Zealand (March 19 to 23, 1994) and finished with two wickets. His 15 years in Test cricket earned him 434 Test wickets at an average of 29.63. His best effort was nine for 83.
On the batting front too, Kapil Dev scored 5,248 runs at an average of 31.05 with eight centuries and 27 half-centuries. He was considered one of the best all-rounders of his time, ranking alongside Clive Rice (South Africa), Imran Khan (Pakistan), Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) and Ian Botham (England).
Kapil also figured in 235 LOIs in which he took 253 wickets and scored 3,783 runs. Kapil played his last LOI against West Indies at Quetta. His record stands as testimony to his dedication to the game.
Kapil Dev And The Betting Scam
Prabhakar vs Kapil
Manoj Prabhakar made startling revelations with his video tape titled "Fallen Heroes - The Inside Story of a Nation Betrayed". Prabhakar secretly taped conversations with players and officials, who had in private admitted to the menace of match-fixing. Kapil Dev's lawyers have threatened to sue all those making allegations against him.
The irrepressible I S Bindra, former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, opened a Pandora's box when he pointed the finger (as alleged by Manoj Prabhakar) at Kapil Dev in the match-fixing allegation.
Manoj Prabhakar subsequently produced a sensational tape to substantiate his claim and said that Kapil Dev was the man, who offered him Rs 25 lakh to tank a match in Sri Lanka. The match, however, was washed out due to rain.
Though Kapil Dev has reacted emotionally and angrily, the truth still remains a mystery. But the moot point is, has Manoj Prabhakar been prompted to make his allegations for reasons other than cricket?
Prabhakar was a game fighter, while Kapil Dev was a match-winner. Yet they never seemed to have enjoyed a happy on-field and off-field relationship. Rivalry among high-profile players, in fact, has been a common factor (may be the bane) of Indian cricket.
With the game becoming a passion in the sub-continent, the rivalries too have intensified.
The game in India is replete with animosity amongst players from Pataudi vs Wadekar, Siddhu vs Azharuddin, Sachin vs Azharuddin, Mongia vs Sachin and now Prabhakar vs Kapil Dev to quote a few instances.
For reasons best known only to them, some players never saw eye-to-eye on and off the field. Prabhakar and Kapil Dev played for North Zone as well and knew each other pretty well.
If one goes by the record, Kapil appears to have had his reservations about Prabhakar from the outset. Way back in 1986, he seems to have preferred Madan Lal (who was not there in the original team) to Prabhakar during a tour of England.
Though Azharuddin claimed his innocence in an unsigned statement when the Indian team left for Dhaka for the Asia Cup, his name has been doing the rounds in Indian circles ever since the scandal broke out.
As Bindra pointed out, Kapil remains the cricketing icon of India. The CBI has been entrusted with the task of finding out the truth, but the sordid drama has left a bad taste.
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