Kapil Dev’s International career in numbers

With a doubt, Kapil Dev was the greatest all-rounder ever produced by India who was behind their triumphs in earlier days including their maiden CWC victory in 1983 as a captain. Kapil, who was naturally an aggressive player, turned out to be a great leader as India registered some big wins during his tenure and changed the stature of Indian cricket. He ended his career as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket and as the 2nd in the ODI format. Kapil Dev, known for big hitting, recorded some of India’s fastest fifties and hundreds in both formats.

On occasion of Kapil Dev’s 59th birthday, we look at his career achievements and records:

1 – Kapil Dev is the only player in Test history to score 4000 runs and take 400 wickets. He aggregated 5248 runs and took 434 wickets in his Test career.

4 – In the 1990 Lord’s Test match, Kapil Dev hit four sixes in four balls in an over against England’s EE Hemmings when India needed 23 runs to avoid the follow-on. He became the first player and one of the three till day to hit four consecutive sixes in an over in Test cricket

5/43 – His 5/43 against Australia in the 1983 CWC is the maiden 5-fer by an Indian in World Cup history as well as the first ever by an Indian in ODI cricket. He is one of the two Indian captains to take a 5-fer in this format.

7 – Kapil Dev is one of the seven players and only Indian with 2500 runs and 250 wickets in the ODI format. He took 253 wickets alongside scoring 3783 runs in his ODI career.

9/83 – Kapil Dev’s 9/83 against Windies in the 1983 Ahmedabad Test is the only instance of a captain taking 9-wicket haul in Test cricket. His figures in that innings are also the best in Test cricket coming in losing cause.

30 – His 30-ball fifty against Pakistan in 1982 Karachi Test match is the fastest fifty by an Indian in this format. Kapil Dev’s 22-ball fifty in the 1983 ODI game in Albion against Windies is the joint 2nd fastest ODI fifty for India.

72 – Kapil Dev brought up his hundred off 72 balls against Zimbabwe in 1983 CWC which is the fastest century by an Indian in World Cup history.

74 – He recorded the fastest hundred by an Indian in Test history with his 74-ball ton against Sri Lanka in 1986 Kanpur Test. Mohammad Azharuddin later equalled the record with a 74-ball century in 1996 against South Africa.

100, 200, 300 – Kapil Dev is the youngest to complete 100, 200 and 300 wickets in Test cricket. He completed 100 wickets at the age of 21 years and 25 days, 200 wickets at 24 years and 68 days and 300 at 28 years and 1 day.

175* – Kapil Dev’s 175* in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe was the first century by an Indian in CWC and also the first ever by an Indian in ODI history. It was also the highest individual score at that time and India’s highest for the next 15 years in this format.

175* – His unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe came while batting at No.6. No player in ODI history scored more in an innings while batting at No.5 and a lower position.

253 – Kapil Dev’s 253 ODI wickets are the 6th most by any player in this format for India. Only Wasim Akram took as many wickets as Kapil Dev in ODI cricket when he retired in 1994.

434 – His 434 wickets in Test cricket are the 2nd most for India behind Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets. Kapil Dev was the leading wicket-taker in the Test format at the time of his retirement in 1994.