Name: Kapil Dev

Age: 48

Country: India

Category: Sports

Calling: Former Indian Cricket Captain / World Cup Winner

The Beginning

Born on 6th January 1959. His parents emigrated after partition and his father set up a successful building and timber business. He studied at D.A.V. school and started his career successfully with a good bowling stint against Punjab in the Ranji while playing for Haryana. His career in domestic cricket peaked when he scored his maiden century and took a five wicket haul. The legend started taking form soon after.

Rise

Kapil made it clear from the beginning that he was a fast bowler throwing more bouncers at his opponents than taking wickets. This, however, was followed by quick half centuries and demolition of batsmen. Some of the more notable performances pre-captaincy include two five-wicket hauls in the home series against Australia, and a ten-wicket haul in a series against Pakistan. His fortune turned at the doorstep to the World Cup when India was baffled by Pakistan, more so by Imran Khan, in a series and Sunil Gavaskar was replaced as the captain. And then the unthinkable happened… West Indies was beaten in a WORLD Cup for the first time not only to be jostled but to give India its first, and one might think, probably the last world Cup. Kapil Dev was at the helm of the match that see-sawed its way into the annals of Indian cricket.

Power Play

No. It is not the 1983 world-cup win. Nor is it the huge Wisden laurel. It is I.C.L. As a vocal spokesperson of a league much needed to counter the politics and money-fisting of BCCI, and openly lambasting politicians and former cricketers alike, Kapil has proved his daring skills off the field as well he had displayed them on field.