Front Page   

Kapil is `Cricketer of the Century'

Kapil Dev

London July 23. India's World Cup winning captain, Kapil Dev, was tonight declared the "Indian Cricketer of the Century". The "Haryana Hurricane" was selected ahead of 15 other illustrious cricketers — including Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar — for the most coveted award at a glittering ceremony organised by Wisden to celebrate the glorious moments of Indian cricket.

Kapil Dev, who took 434 wickets from 131 Tests and also scored 5,248 runs, led India to its most memorable victory when the team upset the mighty West Indies in the final to lift the 1983 World Cup.

Of the 16 cricketers nominated for the award, the list narrowed down to Kapil Dev, Gavaskar and Tendulkar. Though Tendulkar was the popular choice based on a poll conducted by Wisden, Kapil Dev was selected by an expert panel consisting of former players and journalists.

Sunil Gavaskar's 1985 team which won the Benson and Hedges World Series in Australia was adjudged the best Indian Team of the Century.

The award was presented to Kapil Dev by the former West Indian batting great, Viv Richards, who said it was a closely fought race between the three finalists.

Among other honours, V.V.S. Laxman's epic 281 against Australia in Kolkata last year was declared the best Indian Batting Performance of the Century while B.S. Chandrashekhar, who took 242 Test wickets at an average of 29.74, was adjudged the best bowler. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Advani rejects demand for President's rule in Gujarat
• Kapil is `Cricketer of the Century'
• Drought-hit States seek more relief
• BJP allies strike a different note
• Pak. not to open its airspace in the `near future'
• PM skips parliamentary party meet
• Privatise UTI in one year: JPC
• Grenade blast in Rajouri
• JD (U) splits
• Hamas leader killed
• Maruti cuts prices

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu