Kapil Dev Reveals Eight Standout Moments From His Illustrious Career

Former India skipper Kapil Dev is one of the finest allrounders to have played the game of cricket. Alongside Imran Khan, Sir Richard Hadlee, and Sir Ian Botham, Kapil was part of a fantastic quartet of all-rounders in their prime in the 1980s.

The 61-year-old’s biggest moment will undoubtedly remain India’s triumph at the 1983 World Cup, after beating pre-tournament favourites West Indies at the Lord’s. Kapil’s legacy will remain unparalleled in Indian cricketing history because he led the nation to their first World Cup win.

Due to such heroics, Kapil was selected as the Indian Cricketer of the 20th century by Wisden. In an interview with Henry Cowen of the same publication, the veteran shared eight of his most remarkable moments from cricket.

Here are Kapil Dev’s eight standout moments from his illustrious career:

Bowling no-balls against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy, 1975

Kapil recalled that when he lined up for Haryana to play a Ranji Trophy match against Punjab, at Rohtak in 1975, he bowled a lot of no-balls owing to the fact that he was playing on a pitch for the first time.

The all-rounder used to train with matting wickets, in Chandigarh, and hence he struggled in the Ranji match. At that time, he was 22 and was just hoping to bowl quickly.

First Test century vs West Indies, 1980

Kapil scored his first Test century versus the mighty West Indies during the fifth Test match of the series, at Delhi, in 1980. Recalling the incident, the right-handed batsman added that he scored the century well before achieving a five-wicket hall in the purest format.

He stated, “People started saying, ‘He’s an all-rounder, he can bat’, and that helps you stay in the team. It also helps you bowl with a more aggressive mindset. You think, ‘I can contribute with the bat, so I can bowl with some extra pace and try a thing or two.”

Becoming the youngest man to 1000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets

Kapil Dev is the youngest player to reach the double of 1000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets, a record that stands till date. He achieved this illustrious feat in the sixth match of the series against Pakistan, at Kolkata, in 1980.

Recalling the same, the veteran player said, “Reaching 100 Test wickets was very important though because I was the first seam bowler to take that many wickets from India. That was special.”

Five wicket haul in Test against Australia, 1981

India almost pulled off a remarkable upset in their maiden Test series versus Australia, down under, in 1981. An injured Kapil Dev struggling from a thigh strain, took his side within the vicinity of victory, by picking up a five-for in the last day of Melbourne Test.

Despite the fact that he could bowl at full pace, the former Indian skipper scalped five wickets, giving away just 28 runs in the process.

“Sunny Gavaskar suggested I take a break but I said, ‘No, I’m just getting my rhythm. Don’t stop me. Let me bowl.’ I was used to bowling long spells and at that point, my focus shifted to wickets, not my thigh. That’s when the game changed,” Kapil recalls.

Defeating West Indies for the first time in ODIs

Under Clive Lloyd, West Indies were nearly invincible in the 80s. However, India being the underdogs, managed to oust the Caribbean powerhouses courtesy of Kapil’s double contribution with both the bat and ball.

He scored 77 runs, whilst also taking two wickets, to help the Men in Blue defeat West Indies in the second ODI in Guyana. This was the first time, that India got one over the Windies, in the ODI format.

Beating Pakistan in Benson and Hedges World Series finals, 1985

While India did win the World Cup in 1983, various people deemed them ‘lucky’ and said that the Men in Blue won by fluke. However, in Kapil’s opinion, when they defeated Pakistan in the Benson and Hedges World Series final, it was a befitting reply to his team’s critics.

“In a way this was the most special moment for us as a team, even more, special than the World Cup win of 1983. A lot of people said our win in 1983 was a fluke, whereas in this tournament people believed that we were genuinely good enough to pick up the trophy,” he said.

Tied Test versus Australia, 1986

Australia, on their tour of India in 1986, ran rampant in the Chennai Test, as they scored 574 runs in the first innings. In reply, India could only muster up 397 runs but managed to draw the match eventually. This was made possible by Kapil Dev’s inning of 119*.

Reflecting back on the famous Test, Kapil mentioned, “I was very aggressive, hitting over cover, over mid-on, over mid-off, wherever I had the opportunity. I was more bothered with getting runs than defending my wicket.”

Hitting four sixes versus England at Lord’s, 1990

Kapil Dev also reflected back on the four sixes he hit versus England in the first Test match at Lord’s in 1990. He achieved this feat against Eddie Hemmings and remains the only batsman to have done so.

The former Indian skipper said,” I did plan to attack Eddie Hemmings but I didn’t plan for four sixes.”