Next person biography:
Kapil Dev, a cricketer from Chandigarh, was initially denied extra food at a camp for emerging Indian cricketers due to his request for more than the standard quota. He explained that as a fast bowler, he needed to maintain his stamina by eating more. The camp authorities burst into laughter, with one coach remarking, "We don't produce fast-bowlers in India." This incident marked the beginning of Kapil's remarkable cricket career, which spanned from 1978 to 1994.
Kapil Dev's impressive bowling skills earned him a place in cricket history, as he sent back several top batsmen, including those from arch-rivals Pakistan, even on unhelpful wickets in his home country. He demonstrated his ability to think ahead of batsmen with a combination of consistent line and length, as well as his skill in swinging the ball both inside and outside the wicket. This resulted in an outstanding tally of 434 test and 253 ODI scalps, which were world records at the time of his retirement.
In addition to his bowling, Kapil Dev's batting displays were a major attraction, particularly against the best bowling attacks of his generation. Although he was often criticized for his aggressive batting style, he still managed to reach over 5000 runs with 8 centuries, 3 of which were scored outside the subcontinent. His only ODI ton, 175* against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, is widely regarded as one of the greatest innings in the history of the format, as it helped India win the match and clinch their first-ever ICC tournament.
Kapil Dev's achievements as a player were matched by his success as a captain, as he led the Indian team to victory in the 1983 World Cup. His contributions were not limited to his batting and bowling, as he also showcased his fielding skills, including a memorable backwards running catch to dismiss Sir Viv Richards and a blinder to get rid of West Indian captain Clive Lloyd.
After his retirement, Kapil Dev went on to become a coach of the national team, but his tenure was marked by allegations of match-fixing, which forced him to disappear from public life for a while. However, he was eventually cleared of all charges and returned to public life. In 2002, he was voted India's "Cricketer Of The 20th Century" by Wisden, ahead of long-time teammates Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
Today, Kapil Dev remains a revered figure in the international cricket community, and his name is often mentioned whenever the term "all-rounder" is used. He is also a prominent guest lecturer on leadership and team management at various university and college campuses in India.