I Was Scared When I Was Given Captaincy - Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev will always be regarded as one of the finest skippers in the world cricket. He used to be the icon for the Indian Cricket Team and led India to their first-ever World Cup. Meanwhile, in the latest chat with ANI, Kapil Dev revealed his initial reaction after taking the captaincy of the Indian team right at the age of 23 Years.

Kapil Dev,  arguably India’s best fast bowler, and certainly India’s best all-rounder, will always be remembered for leading the country to the title that changed Indian cricket into the phenomenon it is today. However, despite being such a dangerous customer of the game, he also feared when he was initially asked to lead the team.

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Speaking of the same, Kapil Dev quoted that he was scared and surprised when he was asked to lead the Indian National Cricket Team, which have got many senior in the team. Further, the flamboyant all-rounder added stating that he enjoyed the responsibility to lead the team after settling his nerves.

I was feeling a bit weird – Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev said that on the field he was the captain but off the field, his ‘heroes’ were the captain. His tremendous journey in 1983 is set to be screened with Ranveer Singh taking the main role in the film.

“Sometimes you get some things before time and later you realise. I was 23 years old when they made me the captain. I was scared as well as happy because I was thinking how will I handle these senior players. But I was happy because the selector felt that I was capable enough to be a captain,” Dev said in his speech at an event here.

“I was feeling a bit weird that I became the captain and my heroes were playing with me and under me. So, that was a very difficult time … I only thought one thing that on the field I was the captain but off the field, they all are my captain. The movie is not about me. The movie is about how we won the 1983 World Cup. Yes, I am lucky that an actor like Ranveer Singh, who has so much ability, is playing my role,” said Dev.

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After retirement, Kapil Dev became India’s coach for a brief period. A 0-3 loss against Australia, a 0-2 loss to South Africa and accusations of match-fixing saw him step down from the post in tears as he announced that he was leaving the game forever. However, he was cleared of all charges and went on to win ”Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century”, ahead of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.