Personalities Biography

Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev is one of the most celebrated cricketers in India and the world. He was a legendary all-rounder who excelled in both batting and bowling. He led India to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1983 and became a national hero. Here we are sharing some highlights of his life and cricket career:

On 6 January 1959, Kapil Dev was born in Chandigarh, India. His father was a teak merchant, and his mother was a housewife. He had six siblings and grew up in a joint family. He started playing cricket at the age of 13 and joined the D.A.V. College cricket team.
He made his debut for Haryana in domestic cricket in 1975 and impressed everyone with his pace and swing bowling. He took 121 wickets in his first season and earned a call-up to the national team in 1978. He played his first Test match against Pakistan in Faisalabad and took two wickets.

He established himself as a key member of the Indian team with his consistent performances in both Tests and one-day internationals. He was known for his aggressive hitting style and big sixes. He also had a knack for taking crucial wickets at important moments. He was the first Indian bowler to take 100, 200, 300, and 400 wickets in Test cricket. He also scored over 5,000 runs in Tests and over 3,000 runs in ODIs, making him the only player to achieve this double feat.

He became the captain of the Indian team in 1983 and led them to their first World Cup triumph in England. He inspired his team with his brilliant performance throughout the tournament, especially in the final against West Indies, where he took a stunning catch to dismiss Viv Richards and scored a vital 15 runs off 8 balls. He also scored a magnificent 175 not out against Zimbabwe in a must-win match after India was reduced to 17 for 5. He was named the player of the tournament for his all-round contribution.

He continued to lead India with distinction until 1987 when he was replaced by Sunil Gavaskar. He faced some controversies and allegations of match-fixing during his captaincy, which he denied vehemently. He also had some rifts with some of his teammates, such as Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, and Ravi Shastri, over various issues.
He retired from international cricket in 1994 after playing his last Test against New Zealand and his last ODI against West Indies. He finished his career with 434 wickets and 5,248 runs in Tests and 253 wickets and 3,783 runs in ODIs. He held the record for the most Test wickets until it was broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. He is still regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time.

After retirement, he became a cricket commentator and analyst for various media outlets. He also coached the Indian team for a brief period from 1999 to 2000 but resigned after a poor performance in the World Cup. He later became the chairman of the National Cricket Academy and the head of the Cricket Advisory Committee of BCCI. He also launched a golf foundation to promote the sport in India.

He received many awards and honors for his achievements in cricket and beyond. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1982 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991 by the Government of India. In 2002, He achieved the named of Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden. In 2010, He was also reckoned in the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He also received the C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award by BCCI in 2013 and the Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian honor) by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2023 (the first cricketer to receive this honor).

He married Romi Bhatia, an interior designer, in 1980 and has a daughter named Amiya Dev, who is an aspiring filmmaker. He lives in Delhi with his family and is involved in various social causes and charitable activities. He is also an avid golfer and enjoys playing with his friends and celebrities.

The movie based on Kapil Dev is called 83, and it is a biographical sports drama film that depicts the story of the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup under his captaincy. The film is directed by Kabir Khan and stars Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev, Deepika Padukone as his wife Romi Bhatia, and many other actors as the members of the team. The film was released in theatres on 24 December 2021 and is now available on Netflix.

The film has received critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike, praising the performances, screenplay, direction, and technical aspects. The film also features some of the iconic moments from the World Cup, such as Kapil Dev’s 175 not out against Zimbabwe, Balwinder Sandhu’s banana swing that dismissed Gordon Greenidge, and Mohinder Amarnath’s man of the match performance in the final. The film is a tribute to the legendary cricketer and his team that made history in the world of cricket.