When Kapil Dev began his International journey, the cricketing world saw him as the next big thing in cricket. Thousands of budding cricketers of that generation emulated his style and considered him an inspiration. The “Haryana Hurricane,” as he was fondly called during his playing days, set an example for the next generation of cricketers with his “never-say-die” attitude and ability to lead from the front.
Kapil Dev was the captain of the Indian team at a time when many people in India didn’t consider Sports a professional career. The former all-rounder proved everyone wrong and showed everyone that Sports could be a career option. The former skipper was the captain when India wasn’t dominating compared to West Indies, England, and Australia.
In 131 Tests, Kapil Dev scored 5248 runs with an average of 31.05, scoring 8 centuries and 27 half-centuries with a highest score of 163. He claimed 434 wickets with the best bowling figures of 9/83 in the longer format.
In 225 ODIs, the former all-rounder scored 3783 runs with the highest score of an unbeaten 175 registering 1 century and 14 half-centuries and claiming 253 wickets with the best bowling figures of 5/43.
Kapil Dev broke many records as an all-rounder, like becoming the youngest to take 200 and 300 wickets.
He remains the only player to score 5000-plus runs and claim 400+ (434) wickets in Test cricket.
In 1983 he scored 574 runs and claimed 75 wickets in Tests – thereby becoming the first cricketer to pick 500+ runs and 75 wickets in Tests in a calendar year.
He is also part of these two elite lists of all-rounders: this and this.
His biggest strength was his trust in the newcomers and ability to bring the best out of an ordinary player. Whenever the team struggled in any department, the former skipper stood tall and fought bravely whatever the situation. India registered some emphatic victories under his leadership.
This article will look at Kapil Dev’s record as captain.
| FORMAT | MATCHES | WON | LOST | DRAW | TIED | NO RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 34 | 4 | 7 | 22 | 1 | – |
| ODI | 74 | 39 | 33 | – | – | 2 |
Click here to compare and analyse other Captains’ records
Kapil Dev Captaincy Records in Test cricket
As a captain, Kapil Dev won 4 Tests in 34 Test matches as skipper, with 7 ending in losses and 22 ending in draws; one match was tied.
Under his captaincy, India won its first Test series in England 2-0 in 1986 – one of Kapil’s biggest achievements as a Test captain.
As a captain, Kapil Dev holds these records in Tests:
Kapil Dev’s 75 wickets in 18 Tests in 1983 remains the highest number of wickets picked by a bowler in a calendar year in Tests.
He is the only captain to claim 9 wickets in an innings. It was against a dominating West Indies side in Ahmedabad during the 1983/84 series (9/83).
His match figure in the same game, 10-for-135, is the best bowling figure by any Indian captain to date.
He remains the only captain and player to hit four back-to-back sixes in Test cricket. He did this at Lord’s Stadium against England, and the bowler was Eddie Hemmings.
The former skipper remains the fastest skipper to score a half-century in Test Cricket away from home. He scored 50 in just 30 balls against Pakistan in Faisalabad.
The former all-rounder holds a joint record for India’s fastest century in Tests as a player and a captain. His feat of 74-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 1986 was matched later by Mohammad Azharuddin. You can read the fastest ten Indian Test centuries here.
He is the only Indian skipper not to get run out in his Test career.
Kapil Dev Captaincy Records in ODI cricket
In 74 ODIs as skipper, the former all-rounder won 39 games, lost 33, and one ended in no result.
Kapil Dev was the first Indian skipper to lead India to a World Cup victory when he achieved this record in the 1983 World Cup.
As a captain, Kapil Dev holds these records in ODIs:
The former skipper became the first Indian cricketer and captain to score a century in an ODI when he registered a brilliant 175 against Zimbabwe.
His 175 is also the highest by any captain batting at No. 5.
He holds the record for the fastest captain to score a World Cup century.
Kapil’s 91 ODI wickets playing as captain is the highest by an Indian skipper in the 50-overs format.
His 5/43 against Australia in the 1983 World Cup match is also the best bowling figure by an Indian captain in any World Cup match.
Kapil Dev’s Record as Skipper in World Cups
Kapil Dev captained the Indian sides in the 1983 and 1987 editions, where he led his sides to win 11 of the 14 matches he captained – a feat which is only less than MS Dhoni (14 wins) among other Indian captains. Check MS Dhoni’s Captaincy record here.
As a player, the Haryana all-rounder scored 669 runs and claimed 28 wickets in 26 World Cup matches he played overall.
Conclusion
Kapil Dev played a big role in inspiring a generation of Indian cricketers. He not only played a big role in popularising the Sport in India but also made the people of India believe that Sports can be a valuable career option. He inspired many cricketers from rural areas to take up the sport. Today we see many cricketers from small cities and rural areas making big at the International level. By winning the ODI World Cup in England, the legendary cricketer made the country proud, and every Indian looks up to him as a source of motivation.
