Were Ian Botham and Kapil Dev more impactful with the bat than Imran Khan?

[Suleiman]

Imran is considered to be the best allrounder of his era, and 2nd best of all time.

BUT when it comes to batting was he as impactful as the other allrounders of his era namely Botham and Kapil?

Always seemed like more of a grafter, and a bit of tuk-tuker whereas Botham and Kapil have more memorable innings than him where they snatched the game from opposition with the bat.

Ofc Imran has the stats. But as someone who wasn't around in that era I want to hear it from people who have seen all 3 play what they thought of his batting ability.

 

[Rafa]

I think Botham was the best with the bat and absolute fighter, he had around 14 Test Tons too.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Imran's stats are inflated by not outs. Botham was a genuine batsman with 14 centuries.

 

[Adil_94]

botham n kapil were much more aggresive in their batting. Imran was more of a grinder as a batsman someone who could bring stability to an innings but also became exceptionally consistent towards the back end of his career.

 

[Robert]

Imran is considered to be the best allrounder of his era, and 2nd best of all time.

BUT when it comes to batting was he as impactful as the other allrounders of his era namely Botham and Kapil?

Always seemed like more of a grafter, and a bit of tuk-tuker whereas Botham and Kapil have more memorable innings than him where they snatched the game from opposition with the bat.

Ofc Imran has the stats. But as someone who wasn't around in that era I want to hear it from people who have seen all 3 play what they thought of his batting ability.

Botham was best when it looked like all was lost. He was good for sheer shock value. The Aussies of the eighties were terrified by him. But he was not some mere slogger - he hit fourteen test hundreds in a hard era. He was equally good against spin and pace, and had a tighter defence than Gooch and Gower. Occasionally he dropped anchor - I once saw him bat all day against Pakistan for just fifty. His figures got messed up because he was picked for about fifteen tests too many - he should not have played tests after the 1986/7 tour of Australia.

Imran was also a test quality batter but was more of a grinder. He could be a hard man to dislodge. Curiously his top hand would not close fully so he had to have many rubbers on his bat handle. He was clutch - effective in making sure the tail did not get blown away, but six centuries represented a comparatively poor return for a man who often batted at #5.

I didn't see so much of Kapil with the bat because he did not do so well in England but he was the most audacious of the three with by far the highest batting rate. I remember when India needed 24 to avoid the follow-on with the last man in. Kapil hit four consecutive sixes. Botham would have hit three then pinched the strike with a single.

 

[Justcrazy]

Imran was not that talented with the bat , he worked hard to give balance to the team. Bottham and Kapil were more talented.

 

[PakLFC]

IK was generally a defensive batsman. By comparison Kapil and Beefy were exciting to watch.

 

[subshakerz]

Imran was good enough to justify his place in the team on batting alone if he needed to. He played as a specialist bat when he was injured from 83-85 and scored well, and then in the last four years of his career, he was near the best batsman of his team.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Imran was better at everything compared to his peers. THE GOAT

 

[Buffet]

Start of his career till 1986( 60 tests) - 2 tons with 2200 runs.

1987( 28 tests) - Till end of his career - 4 tons with 1500 runs.

------

IK was a good batsman in his last third of his career. He would have gone down as Hadllee like all rounder if he had played the same way he played majority of his career. He surely chipped in with runs in his first 60 tests, but just 2 tons in 60 tests tells you something. At the same time, 4 tons in the last 5 years also tells you how much better he was in that stage. He wasn't bowling much when he scored 4 tons and he bowled a lot when he scored 2 tons.

 

[Buffet]

six centuries represented a comparatively poor return for a man who often batted at #5.

IK batted at #5 only 4 times in his entire career and one time at #4.

 

[Junaids]

Imran Khan was actually the most important batsman of the three.

Both Botham and Kapil Dev could play more dashing innings.

But Imran Khan had the strength of character to bat all day to save the Test or the series. In the final decade of his career, he only lost one series (I'm not counting Zaheer Abbas losing the 83-84 series), because Imran Khan would bat all day to prevent the West Indies from bowling Pakistan out.

The ultimate examples were:

1986-87 Third Test v West Indies at Karachi

Pakistan required 213 to win, but Imran Khan came in after Lunch on the Final Day at 73-5, with 34 overs left. He was the last recognized batsman and he ground out 15 not out to save the Test and the series, 1-1.

1990-91 Third Test v West Indies at Lahore

Again the series was balanced at 1-1. Again Pakistan had to bat last, this time requiring 346 to win or to bat out 107 overs to draw.

Imran Khan came in at 110-4 an hour before Lunch on the final day.

And he batted all day with the tail to finish 58 not out from 162 balls/

That's what Ian Botham and Kapil Dev could not do. Save lost causes against the West Indies with the bat.

 

[Robert]

IK batted at #5 only 4 times in his entire career and one time at #4.

Interesting, I seem to remember him promoting himself when he was unable to bowl due to shin splints.

 

[Robert]

Imran Khan was actually the most important batsman of the three.

Both Botham and Kapil Dev could play more dashing innings.

But Imran Khan had the strength of character to bat all day to save the Test or the series. In the final decade of his career, he only lost one series (I'm not counting Zaheer Abbas losing the 83-84 series), because Imran Khan would bat all day to prevent the West Indies from bowling Pakistan out.

That's what Ian Botham and Kapil Dev could not do. Save lost causes against the West Indies with the bat.

Consider that the Pakistan fast attack was better than England's and India's and so Imran had less to do to save those matches.


Here's Botham's 209 ball fifty to hold off Pakistan: http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16743/scorecard/63465/England-vs-Pakistan-5th-Test

 

[Junaids]

Consider that the Pakistan fast attack was better than England's and India's and so Imran had less to do to save those matches.


Here's Botham's 209 ball fifty to hold off Pakistan: http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16743/scorecard/63465/England-vs-Pakistan-5th-Test

Fair points, but remember the context of Botham's match-saving 50.

On an English pitch on which Pakistan had scored 708, Imran had gone in with only two quick bowlers, and then Wasim Akram got appendicitis.

Imran ended up exhausted, and Botham and Gatting just had to keep out Abdul Qadir and Tauseef Ahmed for over after over after over.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

Botham scored 14 hundreds and took 27 5fers. His averages are less spectacular than Imran's but his ability to produce those big performances was incredible.

 

[Robert]

Fair points, but remember the context of Botham's match-saving 50.

On an English pitch on which Pakistan had scored 708, Imran had gone in with only two quick bowlers, and then Wasim Akram got appendicitis.

Imran ended up exhausted, and Botham and Gatting just had to keep out Abdul Qadir and Tauseef Ahmed for over after over after over.

Imran should have declared at 600, left more time in the match.

Foster broke down early, and Dilley got injured too and was at medium pace.

I think that was Phil Edmonds' last test.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Pure batting talent ? Has to be DEV, his 100 vs the WI in the Caribbean at a strike rate of 100 was unprecedented in those days especially when proper batsmen would struggle to put bat on ball vs the WI bowlers. Dev did great injustice to his batting ability, he just didnt care. I would say out of the 3, Imran was the most complete player, Botham had his heroics vs Australia.....

 

[Iqbal'sh]

Fair points, but remember the context of Botham's match-saving 50.

On an English pitch on which Pakistan had scored 708, Imran had gone in with only two quick bowlers, and then Wasim Akram got appendicitis.

Imran ended up exhausted, and Botham and Gatting just had to keep out Abdul Qadir and Tauseef Ahmed for over after over after over.

On top of that it was the last test of a series that Pakistan had all but won once they scored over 700 in their first innings. So they had less incentive to push for a victory.

 

[joly]

IK was a great bowler but a very Weak batsman as far as hitting ability and could hardly clear the ground, Botham an Kapil were light years ahead

 

[The_Odd_One]

Botham was the best batsman but the least bowler among them.
Imran was the best bowler but the least batsman among them.
Kapil was the 2nd best batsman and bowler among them.

Imran was not as talented as Botham or Kapil but he had nerves of steel and he was the most responsible of these 3 who really hated to lose a game. BTW, Imran was not always a tuk tuk. He has slogged plenty of times in ODIs.

Both Botham and Kapil were dashers who could take on great bowlers but a part of them was like Afridi.

 

[The_Odd_One]

IK was a great bowler but a very Weak batsman as far as hitting ability and could hardly clear the ground, Botham an Kapil were light years ahead

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8531/scorecard/65440/Pakistan-vs-West-Indies-5th-Match
37*(19) facing Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh, and Benjamin

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8531/scorecard/65444/Pakistan-vs-West-Indies-9th-Match
67*(41) facing Marshall, Ambrose, Bishop, and Benjamin

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16835/scorecard/64268/Pakistan-vs-West-Indies-1st-ODI
45(31) facing Marshall, Garner, Holding, and Walsh

 

[Stallion__]

Botham - Yes
Kapil - No

 

[Last Monetarist]

I don't think there is any doubt about Botham being infinitely more compelling with the bat than the other all-rounders of the 80s. Kapil is wildly underrated by non-Indians and was definitely a more talented batsman than Imran but I doubt he did justice to his talent, whereas Imran left nothing to chance in extracting every last ounce of ability in himself. In my view their ranking by their batting ability and achievements is as follows:

1. Botham
2. Imran
3. Kapil
4. Hadlee

In terms of bowling it was:

1. Hadlee
2. Imran
3. Botham
4. Kapil

Procter might have been better than them all, but we'll never know of course.

 

[Robert]

I don't think there is any doubt about Botham being infinitely more compelling with the bat than the other all-rounders of the 80s. Kapil is wildly underrated by non-Indians and was definitely a more talented batsman than Imran but I doubt he did justice to his talent, whereas Imran left nothing to chance in extracting every last ounce of ability in himself. In my view their ranking by their batting ability and achievements is as follows:

1. Botham
2. Imran
3. Kapil
4. Hadlee

In terms of bowling it was:

1. Hadlee
2. Imran
3. Botham
4. Kapil

Procter might have been better than them all, but we'll never know of course.

Good analysis. I agree, though I might move Kapil the bowler up one and Botham the bowler down.

 

[Buffet]

Good analysis. I agree, though I might move Kapil the bowler up one and Botham the bowler down.

Agree about putting Kapil ahead of Botham in bowling. Kapil performing against great WI is a big factor here.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Good analysis. I agree, though I might move Kapil the bowler up one and Botham the bowler down.

I don't mind agreeing with you on this, Botham's penchant for the outrageous swayed my opinion. He could turn the match in a session with either bat or ball, or saving that a casually superlative catch in the slips, but yeah Kapil was more consistent with the ball so probably deserves to be ranked ahead.

Nonetheless, it goes without saying that if I had to pay to watch one of them play during their respective peaks it would have been Botham.

 

[Monsee]

IK was a great bowler but a very Weak batsman as far as hitting ability and could hardly clear the ground, Botham an Kapil were light years ahead

This point has been discussed before in here:

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...Imran-Khan-vs-Joel-Garner-3-Sixes-in-one-over!

Also I will quote The_Odd_one as well from Post 22, these are just a handful matches to share (I am sure there are more innings we can show too.)

Heck, Imran's first ever Test century against one of the all time best bowling attack in the world was at a pretty fast clip as well (by Test scoring standards): URL-LINK

He just never really got the 'All Guns Blazing' kind of opportunities unlike Kapil to just play without any fear...often times Imran had to save the match or rebuild the team's innings before letting lose!

 

[Robert]

Agree about putting Kapil ahead of Botham in bowling. Kapil performing against great WI is a big factor here.

Botham's game with bat and ball fell apart when they made him skipper for those ten tests against WI. He was an instinctual player and having to think about the game did him no good.

Brearley was very crafty in retiring just before those ten tests! Then he came back during the Ashes and turned a 0-1 position into a 3-1 win, with Botham absolutely rampant, and Brearley retired again with his reputation as a genius manager and tactician enhanced.

I wonder what would have happened had Brears been in charge during those ten tests. England would still have lost but I wonder whether Botham's contribution would have been higher. He could certainly turn it on against WI when his head was right - I saw him take an eightfer at Lords - and Brears consistently got the best out of Ian Terrence.

 

[ethan hunt]

IK was a great bowler but a very Weak batsman as far as hitting ability and could hardly clear the ground, Botham an Kapil were light years ahead

What absolute nonsense . Just because he didn't slog recklessly like kapil doesnt mean he couldn't hit it better and further when he needed to . He was arguably more powerful than the other two .He hit it further than modern hitters with those old bats Lol @ could hardly clear the ground. Stop rewriting history .

https://youtu.be/ZjsC4bz-q7A

https://youtu.be/96FoNj-mGHA

 

[Robert]

I saw IK hit John Emburey for a straight six over the stand and into the street.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

IK was a very good hitter and could also defend well. I would say his slight weakness as a batsman compared to Kapil, and especially Botham would be the in-between part of batting between defense and hitting sixes. Botham and Kapil had a wider range of strokes which let them play some genuinely superb counterattacking innings (not that IK was incapable of it just slighlty less than those two)

Botham is definitely the best batsman of the 4 great ARs of the era. 14 hundreds, people! That's genuinely remarkable for a bowling all rounder.

 

[joly]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8531/scorecard/65440/Pakistan-vs-West-Indies-5th-Match
37*(19) facing Marshall, Ambrose, Walsh, and Benjamin

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8531/scorecard/65444/Pakistan-vs-West-Indies-9th-Match
67*(41) facing Marshall, Ambrose, Bishop, and Benjamin

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/16835/scorecard/64268/Pakistan-vs-West-Indies-1st-ODI
45(31) facing Marshall, Garner, Holding, and Walsh

Lol even Agarkar and Steyn has super fast 50s...... find atleast 25 such examples and I will agree (50+)

 

[Abdullah719]

IK was a great bowler but a very Weak batsman as far as hitting ability and could hardly clear the ground, Botham an Kapil were light years ahead

Imran Khan - 55 sixes in 126 Test innings (3807 runs) i.e. 0.436 six/innings or a six every 69 runs

Kapil Dev - 61 sixes in 184 Test innings (5248 runs) i.e. 0.331 six/innings or a six every 86 runs

Ian Botham - 67 sixes in 161 Test innings (5200 runs) i.e. 0.416 six/innings or a six every 78 runs

But he could hardly clear the ground.

 

[Thomaskutty]

Imran's batting is comparable to Ravichandran Ashwin's batting , meaning he was hot when hot but mostly he fumbled along. Kapil was on the other hand a beast and Botham was only good in 1981.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Lol even Agarkar and Steyn has super fast 50s...... find atleast 25 such examples and I will agree (50+)

It is clear that you never watched Imran bat barring a few clips from the 1992 World Cup.

No point in debating someone who is comparing Imran the batsman to Steyn and Agarkar.

 

[Robert]

Imran's batting is comparable to Ravichandran Ashwin's batting , meaning he was hot when hot but mostly he fumbled along. Kapil was on the other hand a beast and Botham was only good in 1981.

Oh? When did his other twelve test hundreds, three hundred test wickets and hundred catches happen then?

 

[Lefthanded]

Imran is among the greatest captains and batted like a captain.

Kapil and Botham failed at that. Not saying that kapil and Botham's ability to sixes and bashing bowlers didn't have tremendous value. It definitely did.

In the second half of Imran's career, he only got better, while Botham and kapil declined and kept playing.

Imran was a champion leader and It's not his fault that he was not out often. Viv and other Windies players of his era have admitted that under him, pakistan was the team that challenged them most.

I don't like the guy, but with a dodgy body, he continued to ascend to greatness.

He didn't owe anything to Pakistan cricket after retiring on a high. But I do wonder what would've become of the team if he became director/coach.

 

[Hasan]

Yes - they were better batsmen.

 

[Justcrazy]

Imran Khan - 55 sixes in 126 Test innings (3807 runs) i.e. 0.436 six/innings or a six every 69 runs

Kapil Dev - 61 sixes in 184 Test innings (5248 runs) i.e. 0.331 six/innings or a six every 86 runs

Ian Botham - 67 sixes in 161 Test innings (5200 runs) i.e. 0.416 six/innings or a six every 78 runs

But he could hardly clear the ground.

Good analysis.

 

[Monsee]

Imran Khan - 55 sixes in 126 Test innings (3807 runs) i.e. 0.436 six/innings or a six every 69 runs

Kapil Dev - 61 sixes in 184 Test innings (5248 runs) i.e. 0.331 six/innings or a six every 86 runs

Ian Botham - 67 sixes in 161 Test innings (5200 runs) i.e. 0.416 six/innings or a six every 78 runs

But he could hardly clear the ground.

Good stats but really wasting time on some already 'bought in to the hype' type of Indian fans (are there usually any other kind anyway)...who think that Kapil the batsman was the second coming of Viv just because of his high SR irrespective of his tail ender like average in tests!

With your stats, that 'Oh but he (Kapil) was so overetly aggressive and could change the complexion of a game in the blink of an eye' theory is totally negated and turns any analysis done so far on its head.

I was recently watching a grainy video of an Imran Khan's assault (in Nehru Cup match against India) on Kapil in the last over of the match where he took Kapil to the tune of 19 runs with some really lusty blows.

19 don't seem that much in context of today's T20 and ODI back ground but it is still a pretty good amount to take off a guy who was oh la di da 'Top ODI All Rounder for 10 years'

 

[AlizeeFan]

Good stats but really wasting time on some already 'bought in to the hype' type of Indian fans (are there usually any other kind anyway)...who think that Kapil the batsman was the second coming of Viv just because of his high SR irrespective of his tail ender like average in tests!

It took Imran 12 years to touch that tail ender average of 31

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

What tailender avearges 31? Rubbish, absolutely garbage posting.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Good stats but really wasting time on some already 'bought in to the hype' type of Indian fans (are there usually any other kind anyway)...who think that Kapil the batsman was the second coming of Viv just because of his high SR irrespective of his tail ender like average in tests!

With your stats, that 'Oh but he (Kapil) was so overetly aggressive and could change the complexion of a game in the blink of an eye' theory is totally negated and turns any analysis done so far on its head.

I was recently watching a grainy video of an Imran Khan's assault (in Nehru Cup match against India) on Kapil in the last over of the match where he took Kapil to the tune of 19 runs with some really lusty blows.

19 don't seem that much in context of today's T20 and ODI back ground but it is still a pretty good amount to take off a guy who was oh la di da 'Top ODI All Rounder for 10 years'

Oh Boi, Monsee I couldn't resist but to reply.

Imran the honest trier oh Whoops I mean the great batsmen could not even score a 50 in WI in test matches let alone a 100 on those bouncy tracks back in those days vs those great WI bowlers, While Dev scored a 100 at a 100 strike rate in WI. That 100 Dev scored was unmatched, you show me one batsmen let alone an all rounder who has scored a 100 vs the WI bowlers in WI at a 100 strike rate during that period....

Oh and congrats on your grainy video of Imran scoring 19 runs vs DEV, if I am not wrong DEV has dismissed Imran more than any other bowler in ODIs.. Don't even get me started on the WCs, while the cornered tiger had to get divine help from the rain to stamp his legacy, Dev the roaring lion set the precedent for Imran nearly 10 years prior, captaining his country to WC glory as a 23 year old kid to vs the greatest side of his era at his own TERMS.......

Before you come back with your crying after reading my post: Imran is the better player of the 2, no one will deny that but sometimes you soar too high, so I have to keep you humble and clip your wings....

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

I will say however that Kapil is overrated in ODIs. In tests he was a remarkably talented and impactful lower order batsman. His entire odi career is built on one legendary innings, unlike in tests.

 

[Leo23]

I will say however that Kapil is overrated in ODIs. In tests he was a remarkably talented and impactful lower order batsman. His entire odi career is built on one legendary innings, unlike in tests.

I read on pp some time back that kapil was ranked the number one odi all rounder for almost a decade ahead of imran and botham.

if that is true then he is not overrated in odis at all

 

[Vayuu]

Oh Boi, Monsee I couldn't resist but to reply.

Imran the honest trier oh Whoops I mean the great batsmen could not even score a 50 in WI in test matches let alone a 100 on those bouncy tracks back in those days vs those great WI bowlers, While Dev scored a 100 at a 100 strike rate in WI. That 100 Dev scored was unmatched, you show me one batsmen let alone an all rounder who has scored a 100 vs the WI bowlers in WI at a 100 strike rate during that period....

Oh and congrats on your grainy video of Imran scoring 19 runs vs DEV, if I am not wrong DEV has dismissed Imran more than any other bowler in ODIs.. Don't even get me started on the WCs, while the cornered tiger had to get divine help from the rain to stamp his legacy, Dev the roaring lion set the precedent for Imran nearly 10 years prior, captaining his country to WC glory as a 23 year old kid to vs the greatest side of his era at his own TERMS.......

Before you come back with your crying after reading my post: Imran is the better player of the 2, no one will deny that but sometimes you soar too high, so I have to keep you humble and clip your wings....

and that too defending a low total

 

[Vayuu]

Imran is among the greatest captains and batted like a captain.

Kapil and Botham failed at that. Not saying that kapil and Botham's ability to sixes and bashing bowlers didn't have tremendous value. It definitely did.

In the second half of Imran's career, he only got better, while Botham and kapil declined and kept playing.

Imran was a champion leader and It's not his fault that he was not out often. Viv and other Windies players of his era have admitted that under him, pakistan was the team that challenged them most.

I don't like the guy, but with a dodgy body, he continued to ascend to greatness.

He didn't owe anything to Pakistan cricket after retiring on a high. But I do wonder what would've become of the team if he became director/coach.

Oh bro, I doubt anybody played innings like 175 when ur team is in dire straits and on verge of getting knocked out.

 

[Ab Fan]

Batting wise:

Botham
Imran/Kapil(close enough but Imran takes the cake)
Hadlee

Bowling:
Imran
Hadlee
Kapil
Botham(Again close but Kapil takes the cake here)

 

[umerz]

Imran's stats are inflated by not outs. Botham was a genuine batsman with 14 centuries.

It means he didn't get out in those innings

 

[Romali_rotti]

Batting wise:

Botham
Imran/Kapil(close enough but Imran takes the cake)
Hadlee

Bowling:
Imran
Hadlee
Kapil
Botham(Again close but Kapil takes the cake here)

Kapil is better than Botham, all that matters is how you perform against the best side of your ERA. Botham avgs 35 with the BALL and 20 odd with the BAT vs the WI...


Amen....

 

[Ab Fan]

Kapil is better than Botham, all that matters is how you perform against the best side of your ERA. Botham avgs 35 with the BALL and 20 odd with the BAT vs the WI...


Amen....

Close enough but Botham has an edge IMO in tests while Kapil was the best of the four in ODIs.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Close enough but Botham has an edge IMO in tests while Kapil was the best of the four in ODIs.

Not taking anything away from Botham, he was an all time great but his performance vs the WI will always cause a big shadow on the positives he achieved during his career. You really have to stand up vs the best to be counted, what you do vs the rest is of less value imo..

 

[Black Zero]

Imran's stats are inflated by not outs. Botham was a genuine batsman with 14 centuries.

How is it inflated?

You meant that he was actually out but recorded as not-out in his stats?

If above is not the case, then its plus point as opponent failed to get him out...

 

[The_Odd_One]

I read on pp some time back that kapil was ranked the number one odi all rounder for almost a decade ahead of imran and botham.

if that is true then he is not overrated in odis at all

Only because Imran played as a batsman a lot in the 80s.

In the 80s, these are their numbers:

Kapil - Batting Average: 26.81, Bowling Average: 26.25
Imran - Batting Average: 33.58, Bowling Average: 22.95

In world cups, Imran averaged a mind boggling 13 as a bowler and scored 430 runs in 14 matches. Kapil scored 455 in 15 matches (that includes 175* vs Zimbabwe) but averaged almost 30 as a bowler.

 

[Vayuu]

Only because Imran played as a batsman a lot in the 80s.

In the 80s, these are their numbers:

Kapil - Batting Average: 26.81, Bowling Average: 26.25
Imran - Batting Average: 33.58, Bowling Average: 22.95

In world cups, Imran averaged a mind boggling 13 as a bowler and scored 430 runs in 14 matches. Kapil scored 455 in 15 matches (that includes 175* vs Zimbabwe) but averaged almost 30 as a bowler.

you forgot that, imran had sarfaraz, kadir in 80's and wasim, waqar, mushy and javed,while kapil was all alone.

 

[The_Odd_One]

you forgot that, imran had sarfaraz, kadir in 80's and wasim, waqar, mushy and javed,while kapil was all alone.

Then he should have taken more wickets due to less competition.

Kapil was an excellent ODI cricketer but no way was he better than Imran in any format.

 

[Leo23]

imran is one of the greatest bowlers ever and a legendary captain but he is extremely overrated as a batsman on pp

 

[Suleiman]

imran is one of the greatest bowlers ever and a legendary captain but he is extremely overrated as a batsman on pp

I think after reading the posts here and seeing whatever videos are out there, it's safe to say that he was a world class batsman not because of any insane natural talent but because he put in the work and maximized whatever talent he had with the bat.

Having said that it seems Botham and Kapil were more gifted batsmen, but it is Imran's discipline and consistency which gave him the stats he has.