Indian cricket team's World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev is known as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. The star all-rounder once held the world record for taking the highest number of wickets (434) in Test cricket, while he is also the only cricketer to have 5000+ Test runs as well as 400+ Test wickets in his name.
Under Kapil Dev's captaincy, the Indian cricket team won the World Cup title for the first time on 25 June 1983. Prior to this final match, Indian captain Kapil Dev played an important role in powering team India to the finals by playing a crucial 175 run-knock against Zimbabwe. After this, the Indian team defeated West Indies in the final to win their maiden World Cup title.
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When Legend Kapil Dev Became The Only Indian Captain To Take Nine Wickets In An Innings
This year was also important for Kapil Dev because this year he bowled the most powerful bowling of his Test career. Kapil Dev took nine wickets in an innings against one of the most dominating cricket teams of that time, West Indies, at Ahmedabad.
On 16 November 1983, Kapil Dev departed nine batsmen in the second innings of the West Indies in Ahmedabad Test match while giving away just 83 runs in 30.3 overs. In this innings, the only one batsman he failed to dismiss was Caribbean opener Desmond Hanes as he was departed by fast bowler Balwinder Singh Sindhu.
Even after 37 years, Kapi Dev is the only bowler who has taken nine wickets in an innings of Test cricket as a captain. Kapil Dev has taken 434 wickets in 134 Test matches in his Test career. He is the only player to have scored more than 5000 runs in Test cricket and at the same time also pick more than 400 wickets.
Team India lost despite Kapil Dev's brilliant performance!
Despite this remarkable performance by Kapil Dev, the Indian team lost in this match by 138 runs. In this match played at Mottera Stadium in Ahmedabad, Captain Kapil Dev won the toss and decided to field first. West Indies' team were reduced to 281 runs in the first innings.
In reply, the Indian team was able to score only 241 runs in the first innings. In the second innings, Kapil wreaked havoc and the Caribbean team was all out for 201 runs. Team India got a target of 242 runs for the win. However, India's entire innings collapsed for just 103 runs.