Kapil Dev Nikanj, the greatest Indian all-rounder, who is a household name of cricketing world turns 57 today.
This naturally gifted cricketer from Haryana produced high-quality performances despite heavy workload and the burden of being the player whom the crowd loved the most to see him bat and bowl. And this fearless cricketer always lived upto the expectations of everyone with his outstanding feats, wherever he played.
And whenever we talk about the glorious allrounders the cricketing world has seen so far, no discussion goes without mentioning Kapil’s name. In spite of so many making useful contributions with bat and ball in, no one has been able to match Kapil’s skills in the history of Indian cricket so far. And I doubt India will ever have such a brilliant all-round cricketer in future. Such are born once in life time.
There would never be a dull moment, whether he was bowling or batting. With easy run-up and a typical jump of his at the time of releasing the ball, Kapil was a treat to watch.
Making his remarkable first class debut (claiming six wickets) for Haryana way back in 1975 against immediate neighboring state Punjab, Kapil till he retired from international cricket in 94 Kapil never looked back. In 77-78 when he bowled magnificently against Bengal and Services, he won the hearts of the selectors, who picked him for the Pakistan tour which followed the same year. And soon he proved his all-round brilliance, picking some wickets and scoring a fine half century. And when the West Indies toured India next, he further stamped his class, scoring a fine century at Delhi, apart from superb bowling superb spells. From then he was an automatic choice for India. And he was Sunil Gavaskar’s trumpcard, who encouraged him as a captain.
The milestones he achieved in his career were uncountable. Of course the 1983 Prudential World Cup win under his captaincy totally changed everything in Indian cricket. And it was true that even if wives started watching cricket it was only because of Kapil Dev’s magic.
Some of his fabulous performances such as – his five-wicket haul at Melborune in 81, his eight wickets at Adelaide and his best Test figures when he got nine scalps in one innings against the West Indies in 1981 are still fresh in everyone’s memory.
Kapil then went onto become the highest wicket taker in Test cricket, surpassing Sir Richard Hadlee, before his retirement.
Now, he is a popular television commentator and on behalf on greattelangaana.com com we wish him a happy birthday.
By Sudheer Mahavadi – DD Commentator
