On this day: Kapil Dev ends Test career in 1994, Australia beat India in 2003 World Cup final

in #cricker6 years ago

kapil.jpeg
On this very day in 1994, India's most decorated all-rounder Kapil Dev played his last Test match for the nation.

Kapil, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders the sport has ever seen, represented India in 131 Test matches which is the fifth-most number of matches played by an Indian in the longest format.

Kapil scored 5248 runs in 184 innings in Test cricket at an average of 31.05 with 8 hundreds and 27 half-centuries. In 227 innings, he took 434 wickets at 29.64 with 23 five-wicket hauls and best bowling figures of 9 for 83 against the West Indies.

Kapil held the record for the most wickets by a bowler in Test cricket for six years after his retirement before West Indies legend Courtney Walsh surpassed him in March 2000, taking the wicket of Henry Olonga in a Test match against Zimbabwe at Sabina Park.

But it was not the numbers because of which Kapil is regarded as a legend of the sport. It was the sheer talent and perseverance that he had as a fast bowler which made him what he was.

Kapil though, did not have a successful stint as India captain in the longest format winning 4, losing 7 and drawing 22 of the 34 Tests he led in.

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