I Would Have Committed Suicide Before Taking Bribes: Kapil Dev

India’s former legendary skipper Kapil Dev will forever be heralded as the first Indian captain to lead the team to glory at the 1983 World Cup. Playing against the formidable West Indies, ‘Kapil’s Devils’ created an underdog story like no other, at the historic venue, of Lord’s.

However, Kapil’s legacy, as a skipper and a true legend was nearly tarnished, 17 years later, when he was accused of taking bribes.

The spot-fixing scandal of 1999, Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar:

After having led India to their first-ever World Cup triumph in 1983, the all-rounder retired from all formats of international cricket in 1994.

In 1999 though, Manoj Prabhakar alleged that Kapil had tried to bribe him. At that time, the latter was serving as a coach to the Indian team.

He had to leave the post amid such serious allegations, and the Chandigarh born player vehemently denied any sort of involvement in the spot-fixing scandal.

Moreover, it saw various players such as former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, Ajay Jadeja and South Africa’s Hansie Cronje (now late) handed lifetime bans from cricket.

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I’d have committed suicide before taking bribe: Kapil Dev

The allegations took such a big toll Kapil, that he, in an older interview went as far as saying that he’d have preferred death before taking bribes.

“I’d have committed suicide before taking bribes. Take all my money, I don’t want it. I come from a family where respect comes first,” said the 61-year-old. 

Later, when the CBI investigated the whole issue, Kapil was given a clean chit, and Prabhakar himself was later banned by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Today, the former Indian skipper is heralded as one of the best all-rounders of time. He is also looked upon as one of the influential men, in the history of Indian cricket.

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