Fabulous Personalities- 16
DR.SUNDAR RAM MBBS., MD
Considered to be one of the all-time greatest cricketing allrounder, Kapil dev is famously known for leading India to glory at 1983 world Cup. Widely seen as the people’s champion, he became the living symbol of the hopes and aspirations of millions of his countrymen during the course of his illustrious 16-year career.
He is fondly known as the “Haryana Hurricane” in cricketing circles. He is the only cricketer to have scored over 5,000 runs and taken more than 400 wickets in Test (international match) cricket.
EARLY CAREER
Kapil Dev Nikhanj was born on 6th January 1959, in Haryana. His family dealt in timber business and later came to settle in Chandigarh. Kapil Dev did not play cricket until he was 13. He got a break when his name was included in the Sector 16 cricket team as a substitute. Dev made his debut in first-class cricket playing for his state, Haryana. He joined the Indian national team for 1978–79 Test series against Pakistan. Although his tally of seven wickets over three matches in a losing effort was not the most spectacular of debuts, Dev played with great energy, possessing an impressive outswinger delivery and an aggressiveness that Indian cricket had not seen in a long while. In fact, Dev was India’s first genuine fast bowler, and he went on to lead the country’s bowling attack for the next two decades.
CAPTAIN OF THE INDIAN TEAM
During his heydays he used to bamboozle batsmen with his prodigious swing. Dev was great not just with the ball; he was equally talented with the bat too. An expert at hooking and driving, he often provided India with the crucial runs needed to win a match even if the top-order failed to score. He cemented his place in the Indian team with his impressive performances and was soon made the captain. As a captain, he downplayed strategy and led by example. It was under his leadership that India went on to win the 1983 World Cup inspite of being the underdogs and beating the mighty West Indies was a dream come true for Indians.
POST – LEADERSHIP
He was retained as the captain for 1987 edition of the world Cup. India went on to lose in the semi finals. Then he continued as a player, contributing with both bat and ball. He retired in 1994 after breaking Richard Hadlee’s record for most international wickets at that time with 434 international scalps. Post retirement, he had a brief stint as the coach of Indian cricket team for a span of 10 months which was unfruitful. Then he entered into the media as a cricket commentator and has continued to do so.
HONORARY AWARDS
He received the Arjuna Award for outstanding achievement in Sports and games in 1979-80.
He was honored with India’s fourth highest civilian award Padma shri in 1982.
Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honor was conferred to him in 1991
In 2002, he was named the Wisden Indian Cricketer of the century.
In 2008, he was honored by the Indian Territotial Army as Honorary Lieutenant Colonel.
In 2010, he was inducted into the ICC HALL OF FAME.
In 2013, CK NAYUDU Lifetime achievement award was conferred on him.
In the arena of sport, there are heroes and there are winners, but a combination of both a heroic winner is a rare phenomenon. In Indian cricket there is no better example of this breed than Kapil Dev. The cricketer of the century Award decisively mirrors in Kapil Dev, the strength of character, the spirit of overcoming odds, and the mental strength to face adversities and will to overcome even hostile situations. He is the greatest all rounder India has ever produced .
