Kapil Dev

India
Full name Kapildev Ramlal Nikhanj
Born January 6, 1959, Chandigarh
Current age 56 years 38 days
Major teams India, Haryana, Northamptonshire, Worcestershire
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
In a nutshell Kapil Dev was India's greatest fast bowler, their greatest fast-bowling allrounder, and led the
team to their finest triumph: the 1983 World Cup title. More

Batting and fielding averages

Mat

Inns

NO

Runs

HS

Ave

Tests

131

184

15

5248

163

31.05

ODIs

225

198

39

3783

175*

23.79

First-class

275

384

39

11356

193

List A

310

270

47

5481

175*

BF

100

50

6s

Ct

St

27

61

64

14

71

32.91

18

56

192

24.57

23

99

3979

SR

95.07

Bowling averages
Mat

Inns

Balls

Runs

Wkts

BBI

BBM

Ave

Econ

SR

4w

5w

10

Tests

131

227

27740

12867

434

9/83

11/146

29.64

2.78

63.9

17

23

ODIs

225

221

11202

6945

253

5/43

5/43

27.45

3.71

44.2

First-class

275

48853

22626

835

9/83

27.09

2.77

58.5

39

List A

310

14947

9161

335

5/43

27.34

3.67

44.6

5/43

Career statistics
Test debut

Pakistan v India at Faisalabad, Oct 16-21, 1978 scorecard

Last Test

New Zealand v India at Hamilton, Mar 19-23, 1994 scorecard

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Test
statistics

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ODI debut
Last ODI

Pakistan v India at Quetta, Oct 1, 1978 scorecard

India v West Indies at Faridabad, Oct 17, 1994 scorecard
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ODI statistics
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First-class
span

1975-1994

List A span

1977-1995

Recent matches
Bat & Bowl

Team

Opposition

Ground

Match Date

Scorecard

0/15, 27

Celebrasians

v Lashings XI

Uxbridge

28 Jun 2007

Other OD

Profile
Kapil Dev was the greatest pace bowler India has produced, and their greatest fast-bowling allrounder. If he
had played at any other time - not when Imran Khan, Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee were contemporaries he would surely have been recognised as the best allrounder in the world. In any case he did enough to be
voted India's Cricketer of the Century during 2002, ahead of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. His
greatest feats were to lead India almost jauntily, and by his all-round example, to the 1983 World Cup, and to
take the world-record aggregate of Test wickets from Hadlee. It was the stamina of the marathon runner that
took him finally to 431 wickets and only a yard beyond. He might not have been quite the bowling equal of
Imran, Hadlee or Botham at his best, and his strike rate was less than four wickets per Test, but he was still
outstanding in his accuracy and ability to swing the ball, usually away from right-handers. And he could hit a
ball even more brilliantly than he bowled it, with uncomplicated flair.

Read More

Gideon Haigh on Kapil Dev

Un-Indian idol

He bowled fast at a time when his country didn't produce fast bowlers; his spirit lives on through the
style and aggression of modern Indian teams
Stats analysis

India's first fast-bowling match-winner

Kapil overcame huge odds to become one of the leading fast bowlers of his era. And he was at his best
against the best team of his time
Timeline
o

November 15, 1975

Sign of things to come

On his Ranji debut, in Rohtak, takes 6 for 39 and 2 for 78 and scores 26 not out in
an innings victory over Punjab.
December 2, 1977

Rohtak reprise

Takes 8 for 38 and 3 for 33 against Services, his maiden first-class 10-wicket haul,
and is selected for the Irani Trophy.

October-November, 1978
Debuts against arch-rivals

On ODI debut scores a 12-ball 13 and takes 1 for 27 as India beat Pakistan by four
runs in Quetta. Fifteen days later, plays his first Test, in Faisalabad, and returns match figures of 1 for
96 in a turgid draw. In the Karachi Test of the same series, scores a 33-ball half-century, then the
fastest for India.

Read All
Prev Showing 1 of 10 Next

January 27, 1979

Century before a five-for

July 12-16, 1979

A lone hand

In his first ODI as captain, against Sri Lanka in Amritsar, scores 49 in 31 balls, and
his bowling figures read 8-6-9-1. India win by 78 runs.

December 23,1982
If it's Karachi, it must be a fast fifty

At the start of the final day of the Melbourne Test, Australia need 119 to win with
seven wickets in hand. Ignoring a groin injury, takes five wickets for 28 runs to bowl Australia out for
83.

September 12, 1982

Leading from the front

Taslim Arif becomes his 100th Test wicket, and in the same Kolkata Test against
Pakistan, his 25th, Kapil goes past 1000 runs. At 21 years 28 days, is the youngest to complete the
1000-run-100-wicket double.

February 11, 1981

Brave heart, big deeds

Gets his first Test five-wicket haul, with zero support from the bowlers around him. It
comes in England's innings of 633 for 5 declared. at Edgbaston, and India lose by an innings and 83
runs.

February 3, 1980
Four wickets, 40 runs per Test

Starts the third day of the Delhi Test against West Indies on 94, and hits Norbert
Phillip for a six to reach his first Test century. Takes 3 for 59 in enforcing the follow-on, but there isn't
enough time to force a result.

Breaks his own record of fastest half-century for an Indian, reaching the mark in 30
balls during his boy-on-burning-deck 73 off 53 balls. His 5 for 102 is overshadowed by Imran Khan's
8 for 60 as India go down by an innings and 86 runs.

March 11-16, 1983

Four wickets, 40 runs per Test intact

In his 50th Test, in Trinidad, Andy Roberts becomes his 200th Test victim. Builds on
his 2000-run aggregate with a second-innings century in 95 balls. At 24 years 68 days, is the
youngest to achieve this double too.

March 29, 1983

Berbice beginning

On his way to a 38-ball 72, in Berbice, rattles off the then fastest ODI fifty for an
Indian. India's 282 for 5 is the then highest total against West Indies. Follows it up with figures of 100-33-2 to set India's first ODI win over West Indies, a precursor to a more famous win to come later
in the year.

June 1983
His and Indian cricket's finest month

Takes 5 for 43 against Australia at Trent Bridge to record the first five-for by an
Indian in ODIs. Against Zimbabwe in Tunbridge Wells, comes in at 9 for 4 and scores an unbeaten
175, the first ODI century by an Indian, keeping India alive in the tournament. Becomes the first
person other than Clive Lloyd to lift the World Cup after India upset West Indies in the final. Makes 15
in a low-scoring match, returns figures of 11-4-21-1, and takes a stunning catch, running backwards,
to remove Viv Richards.
November 12-16, 1983

o
One short

Takes 9 for 83 in West Indies' second innings in Ahmedabad. Is never close to

getting a perfect 10, though: Balwinder Sandhu had taken the first wicket, Desmond Haynes. India's
batting fails in the second innings in a 138-run defeat.

December 7, 1983
A thousand runs
Becomes the first Indian to cross the 1000-run landmark in ODIs.

December 1984-January 1985

Big man v big man

Two great Indian cricketers collide. Having already lost his captaincy to Sunil
Gavaskar, is dropped for playing a loose shot - going for his second six in six balls - in the Delhi Test
against England. The first time he is dropped in 67 Tests. Comes back a Test later and plays another
65 Tests on the trot.
September 18, 1985

o
India's best

February 2, 1986
Hundred in ODIs

With Amal Silva's wicket in the Kandy Test, goes past Bishan Bedi's tally of 266 Test
wickets - then the best for an Indian.

With a destructive late spell of three wickets in six balls, helps beat New Zealand in
a Benson & Hedges Series match, and also becomes the first Indian to take 100 ODI wickets. Already
has 1607 runs to his name.

January 7, 1987
The double of trebles

In his 83rd Test, in Cuttack, makes Rumesh Ratnayake his 300th Test wicket, and
becomes only the second player after Ian Botham to have achieved the double of 3000 runs and 300
wickets.

November 15, 1989

o
Fastest to 100

At 30 years 313 days, becomes the youngest then to his 100th Test.

July 30, 1990

o
Four times six

January 4, 1991
The second trick

Hits Eddie Hemmings for four consecutive sixes to avoid the follow-on at Lord's, the
first time four sixes are hit in four balls in Tests.

Becomes the second Indian to claim an ODI hat-trick, removing Roshan Mahanama,
Rumesh Ratnayake and Sanath Jayasuriya in the final of the Asia Cup, at Eden Gardens.

October 22, 1991

Double hundred

With Winston Benjamin's wicket in a Wills Trophy match in Sharjah, becomes the
first man to take 200 ODI wickets.
December 9, 1992

o
Back of

February 8, 1994
King of the world

Last day in international cricket, an ODI in Haryana's industrial capital, Faridabad.

Goes wicketless for 37 runs in his five overs against West Indies, and scores 12 in a comprehensive
defeat. Ends up with 253 ODI wickets, more than anybody else then, just like in Tests.

October 1999-August 2000

Ordinary second innings

With Hashan Tillakaratne's wicket in Ahmedabad, becomes the most successful

bowler in Tests, passing Richard Hadlee's tally of 431 wickets. Plays only one more Test.

October 17, 1994

Back to Haryana

Runs out Peter Kirsten in an ODI for backing up too far before he has bowled. Had
warned Kirsten three times before on the tour, but that doesn't prevent an ugly controversy.

Under Kapil the coach, India struggle to beat New Zealand at home, and lose series
to Australia away and South Africa at home. During the stint he is also accused of being involved in
match-fixing.

May 11, 2000

Don't cry for me

Breaks down in a TV interview when responding to match-fixing allegations. Later

cuts all ties with cricket.

July 23, 2002

A grand comeback

Comes back from a period of quiet when Wisden names him the Indian Cricketer of
the 20th Century. Returns to the official fold as a bowling consultant and serves as chairman of the
National Cricket Academy in Bangalore for two years.
May 2007

o
Moves parallel

Joins the ICL, a parallel Twenty20 league, challenging the BCCI's monopoly in cricket
in India. The ICL can't sustain itself, and all but folds up operations two years later.

Best Performances
4 for 90, 7 for 56 and 84 v Pakistan, Chennai, 1979-80

Signs of a new era. All spin greats are gone, Kapil is leading an attack that has
Karsan Ghavri, Roger Binny and Dilip Doshi besides him. And lead he does, taking tour top-order
wickets on the first day, reducing Pakistan to 272 in the first innings. Then, coming in at 279 for 6,
blasts his way to a 98-ball 84 to virtually bat Pakistan out. Almost single-handedly, taking seven
wickets in 23.4 overs, Kapil bowls Pakistan out again, setting up the match and the series win.
5 for 28 v Australia, Melbourne, 1980-81

Right from the first morning when Australia have India at 43 for 3, they lead the
match. A controversial lbw against Sunil Gavaskar later, India's attempt at the comeback into the
match is thwarted and India are left to defend 142 in the final innings. All India's main bowlers, Kapil,
Shivlal Yadav and Dilip Doshi, are injured. Karsan Ghavri takes two wickets on the fourth evening,
giving the management enough reason to coax the injured Kapil out on the fifth morning. In an
unbroken spell of 16.4 overs of accurate pace bowling, Kapil uses the up-and-down pitch to bowl
Australia out for 83. It is the first time India manage to draw a series in Australia.
38, 46 and 5 for 70 v England, Mumbai, 1981-82

Survival, and not scoring, occupies the minds of most batsmen on this uneven
Wankhede pitch for the first Test of the series. Kapil's 50-ball 38, though, gets India a 13-run firstinnings lead, an advantage that England minimise by reducing India to 90 for 5 in the second
innings. Kapil fails to see what the fuss is all about and smites 46 off 50 balls, setting England 241 to
win. With the ball, he finishes off what he started, taking out Graham Gooch, Chris Tavar, David
Gower, Ian Botham, and also ends the 25-run last-wicket stand, getting Bob Willis.

Read All

Prev Showing 1 of 3 Next

8 for 85 v Pakistan, Lahore, 1982-83

The series has been lost, this match ends in a draw because of thunderstorms, but
the ones watching Kapil's eight-for rate it as one of his finest spells of bowling. Working up good
pace, his line and length impeccable, he gets such pronounced swing as to be virtually unplayable.
The late swing accounts for Moshin Khan and Majid Khan at the top of the innings, and he also takes
the last three wickets in five balls to bring about a quick end. Between those spells, he perseveres
for the wickets of Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan and Wasim Bari.
72 and 2 for 33 v West Indies, Berbice, 1982-83

The vintage Twenty20 innings perhaps before the conceivers of Twenty20 had even
started following cricket. At this obscure venue in Guyana, Kapil promotes himself to come in at 152
for 2. When he leaves, having faced 38 deliveries, India have reached 246, on their way to the then
highest ODI total against West Indies. He lashes seven fours and three sixes in his 72 at an unheard-

of strike-rate of 189.47. For good measure, Kapil bowls 10 overs for 33 runs and two wickets to seal
the win that tells India West Indies can be beaten. Less than three months later, that knowledge
comes handy in the World Cup final.
175 v Zimbabwe, Tunbridge Wells, 1983

Despite having surprised West Indies in an earlier match, India's qualification for
the semi-final is under doubt after Zimbabwe have reduced India to 17 for 5 in this return match.
With Roger Binny, Madan Lal and Syed Kirmani for company, Kapil plays perhaps the most important
innings in India's ODI history - 175 in 138 balls, out of the 257 runs scored while he is at the wicket.
It's not just hitting, which is clean and savage in getting 16 fours and six sixes. The match is being
played at the edge of the square, and Kapil exploits the longer boundary to take threes and the
shorter one to hit big. The BBC, though, is on strike and the match is not televised. One spectator
records the innings on his camera, and is later paid well by Kapil for parting with it.
9 for 83 v West Indies, Ahmedabad, 1983-84

After the World Cup win, India face West Indies' backlash at home, failing to win
anything in a six-Test and five-ODI tour. In Ahmedabad, though, Kapil provides his team brief reason
for cheer, becoming only the 11th bowler in history to take more than eight wickets in a Test innings.
After India fall behind by 40 runs in the first innings, Kapil bowls 30.3 unchanged overs for all wickets
except Desmond Haynes', still struggling to keep West Indies to an attainable total.
119 v Australia, Chennai, 1986-87

In the tied Test, comes arguably Kapil's finest batting effort in Tests. After Australia
declare at 574 for 7, thanks largely to Dean Jones' heroic 210, Kapil walks in at 206 for 5, which soon
becomes 245 for 7. Kapil gets into a typical counterattack, his strokeplay brilliant and remarkably
doubt free for an adverse situation, reaching his hundred in 119 deliveries. Eighty-four of his runs
come in boundaries, 44 of his second 50 in 11 hits. Not only has the follow-on been averted,
Australia are left needing a brave declaration if they intend to win. The brave declaration comes,
India too play ball, and after five days of intense cricket the teams can't be separated.
129 v South Africa, Port Elizabeth, 1992-93

It's a lost cause if ever there is one. After Allan Donald's fiery pace bowling and
Hansie Cronje's determined century, India have lost six wickets and haven't even got through half
the first-innings deficit. With an injured right hand, Kapil puts up an exhibition of driving classical and
thrilling, a breathtaking counterattack that finds a separate identity around events much bigger Donald's 12-wicket haul and South Africa's first win since readmission. Of the 188 runs that are
scored while he is at the wicket, Kapil scores 129 in 180 balls - less than half of what Cronje faces in
scoring 135.