India’s greatest allrounder is born. Kapil Dev is still the only player to score 4000 runs and take 400 wickets in Test cricket.
His 5248 runs included eight centuries, his 434 wickets were a world record at the time, and he captained India when they won the 1983 World Cup. Kapil averaged over 40 with the bat against England and 25 with the ball against Australia.
Highlights included a rollicking 84 and 11 wickets in a big win against Asif Iqbal’s Pakistan team in Madras in 1980, which sealed the series for India; 318 runs and 22 wickets against England – Botham, Gatting, Gooch, Gower, Willis and all – in 1981-82; 25 wickets against Australia in the series there in 1991-92; and 129 in an innings against South Africa in Port Elizabeth where the rest of the India side made 86 between them. If Kapil hadn’t been dropped for one Test against England in 1984-85 (a disciplinary measure after an attacking stroke at the wrong time), his Test career would have consisted of 132 consecutive matches. (ESPN cricinfo).