Indian captaincy made me both scared and happy: Kapil Dev

Before the 1983 edition of the World Cup, not many gave India much of a chance to lift the title. However, the team, led by Kapil Dev, defied the odds, soared above the expectations and went on to lift the trophy at the iconic Lord’s. It was the mighty West Indies, captained by Clive Lloyd, whom them managed to beat at the Home of Cricket by 43 runs to change the face of their cricket.

It was a challenge for Kapil, who became the national captain in September 1982. He was given the mantle when he was merely 23 years old. Recently, at an event, he talked about how the colossal responsibility scared him to some extent, besides making him happy.

I was feeling a bit weird: Kapil Dev

“Sometimes you get some things before time and later you realise. I was 23 years old when they made me the captain. I was scared as well as happy because I was thinking how will I handle these senior players. But I was happy because the selector felt that I was capable enough to be a captain,” Kapil was quoted as saying in India Today.

The fact that he was about to lead some of his heroes in national colours made him nervous to some extent. “I was feeling a bit weird that I became the captain and my heroes were playing with me and under me. So, that was a very difficult time … I only thought one thing that on the field I was the captain but off the field, they all are my captain,” he added.

It won’t be wrong in saying that even Kapil wouldn’t have expected to come the way he actually did by the end of his career. In the ODI format, he led in 74 matches out of which India won 39 matches. Meanwhile, a movie surrounding the 1983 World Cup is set to hit the silver-screens.

Ranveer Singh will be playing Kapil’s role in the movie. Dev said that the movie isn’t about him, but surrounding India’s journey in the mega event on England soil.

“The movie is not about me. The movie is about how we won the 1983 World Cup. Yes, I am lucky that an actor like Ranveer Singh, who has so much ability, is playing my role,” the legendary all-rounder stated.

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