Happy birthday Kapil Dev: Popularly nicknamed as ‘Haryana Hurricane’, the cricket fraternity and the hero of the entire nation, Kapil Dev will be celebrating his 63rd birthday this January 6.
Very well known for his pacey fast-medium bowling, aggressive batting, Kapil is an epitome of a classic all-rounding and a highly admirable leader.
He will always be commemorated as the captain who led Team India to lift the Cricket World Cup in 1983.
We are all aware of the fact that Kapil is India’s first world cup winning captain and an all-rounder who had a lethal outswing and an energetic action that took the ball away from every right-handed batsman he has faced.
Whereas with the bat he always has been a lower-middle order aggressive batsman who smashed boundaries is fondly known for changing the momentum in high-pressure matches.
Kapil Dev was the first player to do the all-rounder’s double of 100 wickets and 1000 runs just at the age of 21.
He took the Indian cricket to new heights, during his captaincy, among which is 1983’s World Cup trophy wherein they defeated two-time champions West Indies in the finals.
Last year, in 2021, many celebrities and cricketers, including Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Dadda Ganesh, to Harsh Bhogle, all of them wished Kapil a very happy birthday and made his day even special.
Happy birthday Kapil Dev: Some facts about him that may leave you stunned.
- Kapil Dev is the first player to take 200 ODI wickets.
- Kapil Dev is the only player in the history of cricket to have taken 434 wickets and scored more than 5000 runs in Tests.
- On his debut at Faisalabad, Kapil walked out at 425 for 6 to join Dilip Vengsarkar. He asked the umpire, “Please, can I have a leg-stump guard?” On this, he was laughed at and sledged by the Pakistan cricketers, however, they later advised him not to be too polite during a cricket match.
- Kapil Dev was never run-out in his entire Test career lasting 184 innings.
- Kapil Dev and Dilip Vengsarkar had scripted much partnership for India, they were the first pair to play a hundred Tests together. Not many know Vengsarkar was the only person to be present when Kapil took his 100th, 200th, 300th, and 400th Test wickets.
- Kapil Dev was named as Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2002.
- Talking about films, Kapil Dev has made cameo appearances in four films namely, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Aryan: Unbreakable, Chain Kulii ki Main Kulii, and Iqbal.
Time flows and passes really fast but the affect this legend had left on the Indian team is everlasting.
We wish him love, luck and a very happy birthday!
