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RSSKapil Dev - Great Ambassador of Indian Cricket
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Kapil Dev Ramlal Nikhanj, popularly known to the world as Kapil Dev, captained the Indian cricket team which won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. Born on 6 January 1959, Kapil Dev was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002. This right-arm pace bowler was effectively against tailenders and admired for being a natural striker of the ball who could hook and drive effectively.
Nicknamed The Haryana Hurricane, Dev was the greatest pace bowler India has produced and voted India’s Cricketer of the Century during 2002, ahead of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. Dev made his Test cricket debut in Faisalabad, Pakistan on 16 October 1978 and he also became the youngest Test player to achieve the all-round double of 100 Wickets and 1000 Runs and in 25 matches.
His batting skills were admired by the entire world when he scored 175 runs off 138 balls (not out) against Zimbabwe at Nevill Ground, Royal Tunbridge Wells on 18 June 1983 during the 1983 World Cup. India went on to win the World Cup riding on the heroics of Kapil Dev and Mohinder Amarnath. He was cited by umpire Dickie Bird as being one of the greatest all-rounders of all times.
Kapil Dev formally retired in 1993 after breaking the record of Richard Hadle for most Test wickets by taking 434 wickets.
Kapil Dev joined the Indian Territorial Army and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel by General Deepak Kapoor, Chief of the Army Staff on September 24, 2008.
