Last Update: Jan 06, 2023, 07:00 AM IST
Kapil Dev’s illustrious career has seen ups and downs both on and off the field.
Happy Birthday Kapil Dev: Kapil enjoyed an illustrious career taking 434 wickets and scoring 5248 runs in 131 Tests for India
Happy Birthday Kapil Dev: Kapil Dev etched his name in the history books when he became the first captain to lead India to the World Cup trophy in 1983. In an era when India was renowned for its clever batsmen and master spinners, Dev broke the mold with his fast bowling and batting skills. He became a phenomenon, regarded as one of the top all-rounders of his time.
The illustrious career of the former Indian captain has seen ups and downs both on and off the field.
Kapil Dev was born on 6 January 1959 in Chandigarh. Little did the nation know that this was the birth of a player who would change the course of cricket in India. The Haryana lad made his international Test debut on 1 October 1978 against arch-rivals Pakistan and since then there has been no looking back.
Like that undeterred player on the field, Kapil Dev has never shied away from sharing opinions, some of which have even sparked controversies.
On his 64th birthday, here’s a look at some of his achievements, the inspiration behind them and some comments that have sparked some debate in recent times:
1. In an interview with CRED for the masterclass series titled ‘The Long Game’, Kapil Dev shared that his main motivation to become a fast bowler was to prove a senior cricket official wrong that India could not produce a fast bowler .
In February 1994, he became not only a fast bowler but also the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, having flourished at the international level. This record would only be broken six years later by West Indies legend Courtney Walsh.
2. Many see the modern game as a hectic saga, but Kapil Dev blasts current crop of players complaining about pressure in a fiery statement
“Don’t play”. Who is asking you? There is pressure, but if you are playing at that level you will be praised and abused. If you are scared of abuse then don’t play………………… .Pressure is an American word. If you don’t want to work, don’t. Is someone forcing you? Ja ke banana ke dukaan lagao. Ande becho ja ke. (Open a banana stall, go sell eggs).”
3. Dev, who did not hold back at the ‘Chat with Champions’ event, made a statement that he does not understand words like stress and depression, which earned him a lot of criticism, with people accusing him of being ignorant about mental health problems.
“I have heard many times on TV that there is a lot of pressure on players to play in IPL. Then I say only one thing, don’t play. If the player has passion then there will be no pressure. I can’t understand these American words like depression”
Kapil Dev enjoyed an illustrious career in 131 Tests for India, taking 434 wickets and scoring 5248 runs. He will always be remembered as an icon who played a key role in taking cricket from just another sport to a ‘religion’ for most fans in India.
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