Harsh Thakor
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Very happy and relieved that the last post of 5 best all-rounders did true justice to the legendary Kapil Dev who has been greatly under estimated here.It is hard for words or statistics to describe the moral contribution of Kapil Dev to Indian cricket.
Kapil was the supreme entertainer ,similar to Sobers and Botham in that regard.He could create an impact of a hurricane with the bat, produce a spell that could create shivers in the enemy camp and pull of the most stunning of catches.Few cricketers ever exuberated as much energy on a cricket field.He was not technically the soundest but could exhibit the most audacious strokeplay .Not as quick as a genuine paceman but often as or more lethal that he quickest bowlers with his great oustwinger and control of length.Not the most athletic but could pull of catches. many would dream off.
Above all he bowled on the flat subcontinent tracks. without any assistance.He was more successful than Hadlee or Botham against West Indiesat home and overseas being s overall the best performed all-rounder against the best team of all time which was West Indies.In 2 series he defeated Ian Botham in his prime for the man of the serise award in 1981-82 at home and in 1982 away.At Lords in1982 he was simply a revelation with his swashbuckling 89 and sensational spell of 3 wickest on the penultimate day that ressurected India to gain moral glory and send tremors in te English camp.He went on to play a major role in India's 1st ever win at Lords in 1986 with his bowling and with the bat in 1990 repeated his impact of 1982.Earlier in 1979-80 versus Pakistan he played the biggest role in India upsetting the formidable Pakistan team that was considered unbeatable at the start of the series.His 32 wickets at 17.68 and average of 88 with scores of 84 and 69 was a phenomenal performance.In 1983 at home versus West Indies he was joint man of the series with Malcolm Marshall having the best bowling average.In 1983 in West Indies Kapil had scores of 100 not out and 98 against the best pace attack ever.I can also never forget his 163 at Madras in 1986 to save India from a follow on.The spells I can never forget him bowl were hi 9-83 at Ahmedabad v West Indies and 8-85 at Lahore in 1982-83 where he reminded you of a marathon man.It was a sight to behold watching Kapil steam in with the heart of a tiger and skill of a gladiator.To top it all in 1992 he gave an outstanding batting performance in a test in South Africa where even if not staving off defeat he restored India's pride.
In ODI cricket he wast he best of all all-rounders .His 175 n.o v Zimbawe in 1983 world cup resurrected a team from the grave to reach the pinnacle of glory like no cricketer in an ODI.In the 1985 world championship of cricket his audacious strokeplay and penetrative bowling played a major role in India's victory.
Potentially he was close to the Sober's class.His impact on Indian cricket is comparable to that of Tendulkar and Gavaskar and he has shaped more cricketing wins than either of them for India.
Scoring 5248 runs and capturing 434 wickets are amazing statistics.He took 5 wickets on 23 occasions but captured 7 or more wickets 4 times in his test career which is remarkable.9.83 v West Indies,8-85 and 7-56 versus Pakistan and 8-120 v Australia.
True his batting average was only 31 and bowling average 29.64.Still remember the brunt of the team Kapil had to carry on his back with no support from conditions.
Hadlee even if a lone warrior had the assistance of seaming surfaces at home like Botham.
To me Kapil had the potential to win more games than Kallis with his attacking demeanour and at his best was more impactful. .
Kapil lacked Imran's responsibility with the bat but was more talented and could change the complexion of a game with his batting at his best considerably more.
I feel Kapil was similar to Botham being an agressive stroke-player and fast-medium bowler .Significant that in every department he outplayed Botham against West Indies.Imran and Hadlee were basically great fast bowlers who later became good batsmen.
To change a game with both bat and bal I would prefer
the like sof Botham and Kapil rather than Imran,Kallis or Hadlee.
Sadly Kapil fell out due to lack of consistency and possibly temperament.
Potentially he was close to the Sober's class.His impact on Indian cricket is comparable to that of Tendulkar and Gavaskar and he has shaped more cricketing wins than either of them for India.
In the analysis of all-time great cricketers Kapil has been ranked 48th by Cristopher Martin Jenkins, around 35th by Geoff Armstrong and 40th by David Gower.Both ranked him above Kallis but surprisingly Armstrong rated him above Keith Miller.In my analysis Kapil would rank in the category of Curtly Ambrose,Javed Miandad,Alan Border,Graham Gooch and a shade below Wasim Akram,Greg Chappell,Ian Botham ,Jacques Kallis or Keith Miller as a cricketer.Still above Clive Lloyd,Mike Procter,David Gower,Zaheer Abbas,Virendra Sehwag etc.
Amongst all-rounders just by a whisker I would rate him below the likes of Imran,Miller,Botham or Kallis and on par with Hadlee,with Gary Sobers simply supreme.Overall around 45th place as a cricketer and sixth place as an all-rounder This is my subjective opinion but on a given day with a gun on my head I may rank him in the top 5 giving due respect to his phenomenal contribution as an entertainer and a sportsman.Very close to the 5 most entertaining cricketers of all.At his best to me as an all-rounder Kapil was only behind Sobers and Botham.In ODI'S without hesitation he is my no 1.
STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO
He announced himself in no uncertain terms in his first series, exhibiting pace and aggression hitherto unseen among Indian bowlers, but in statistical terms the returns from that series were meagre - seven wickets at an average of more than 60. In his first 10 Tests, he conceded more than 39 runs per wicket, and his batting was a stronger suit than his bowling. Sixteen wickets in four Tests against England started the golden run with the ball, and he followed that with 28 wickets in the home series against Australia and 32 in six Tests against Pakistan at an average of less than 18.
Those performances signalled a peak in Kapil's bowling career, when the pace was sharp, the outswinger working to perfection, and the wickets coming his way at a quick rate. In the 13 series he played between July 1979 and December 1983, Kapil's bowling average went beyond 32 in only three series, while seven times he averaged less than 26. That was also the period when he averaged more than four wickets per Test, and took a five-for 17 times in 52 Tests.
He still turned in lion-hearted performances with the ball after that, but not with the same consistency: in 69 Tests from the beginning of 1984, Kapil's wicket tally dropped to 2.7 per Test, and he also went an entire series - three Tests against Australia at home in 1986 - without a wicket. His batting, though, went up a notch, thus ensuring that his batting average was higher than his bowling average in each of those three periods of his Test career. Of his eight Test centuries, five came during this phase.
Kapil Dev's Test career in three parts Period Runs Average 100s Wickets Average 5WI
First ten Tests 510 42.50 1 29 39.06 1
Next 52 Tests 1973 27.40 2 218 26.19 17
Next 69 Tests 2765 32.52 5 187 32.20 5
Career 5248 31.05 8 434 29.64 23
Kapil's best phase as an ODI bowler coincided with two famous victories in world events for India. During the period between May 1983 and March 1986, when India won the World Cup and the World Championship of Cricket, he averaged 31.25 with the bat and 20.39 with the ball, taking 69 wickets in 47 games. His performances remained impressive till the early 1990s, but in the last couple of years of his career his numbers fell away alarmingly: in 36 matches he averaged 13.50 with the bat and more than 37 with the ball. The only aspect that wasn't affected was his economy rate, which remained well below four runs per over.
Towards the beginning of the 1990s, the positive difference between his batting and bowling averages also began to close. Through most of the 1980s his batting average was more than the corresponding one for bowling, but the last time this happened was on December 15, 1991,when, after his 176th ODI, his batting average was 0.13 higher. As he neared the end of his career, his batting and bowling prowess both decreased, and he ended with a batting average almost four runs lower than the bowling one. (Click here for his cumulative ODI averages.)
Kapil's ODI career Period ODIs Runs Average Strike rate Wickets Average Econ rate
Till April 1983 32 608 20.96 107.80 34 31.20 3.78
May 1983 to Feb 1986 47 1000 31.25 98.91 69 20.39 3.51
March 1986 to March 1992 110 1878 24.71 93.75 123 28.17 3.81
Since April 1992 36 297 13.50 74.06 27 37.48 3.62
Career 225 3783 23.79 95.07 253 27.45 3.71
Kapil's overall numbers are impressive enough, but what stands out are his bowling stats against the best team of his generation. In 25 Tests against West Indies, Kapil took 89 wickets, which is his second-highest against a single team (he took 99 against Pakistan). The average of 24.89 is his best against any team, marginally better than the 25.35 he averaged in 20 Tests against Australia.
In the 1980s, Kapil was among the best bowlers against a line-up that included Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Richie Richardson. He dismissed Greenidge eight times in Tests, and Haynes, Richards and Dujon seven times each. (Click here for more details.) In 19 Tests, Kapil's bowling average against West Indies was less than 23; among those who bowled at least 1200 deliveries against them during this period, only Imran Khan and Richard Hadlee, the two other great allrounders of the era, had better bowling averages. Ian Botham's numbers were a huge contrast to those of the three other allrounders, though: in 19 Tests he took only 58 wickets at an average of almost 36.
Best Test bowlers versus West Indies in the 1980s (Qual: 1200 balls bowled) Bowler Tests Wickets Average Strike rate 5WI/10WM
Imran Khan 10 52 16.68 38.3 5/ 1
Richard Hadlee 10 51 22.03 49.1 4/ 1
Kapil Dev 19 72 22.98 51.4 4/ 1
Abdul Qadir 8 40 28.07 55.2 1/ 0
Graham Dilley 11 36 28.77 56.6 1/ 0
Kapil was the supreme entertainer ,similar to Sobers and Botham in that regard.He could create an impact of a hurricane with the bat, produce a spell that could create shivers in the enemy camp and pull of the most stunning of catches.Few cricketers ever exuberated as much energy on a cricket field.He was not technically the soundest but could exhibit the most audacious strokeplay .Not as quick as a genuine paceman but often as or more lethal that he quickest bowlers with his great oustwinger and control of length.Not the most athletic but could pull of catches. many would dream off.
Above all he bowled on the flat subcontinent tracks. without any assistance.He was more successful than Hadlee or Botham against West Indiesat home and overseas being s overall the best performed all-rounder against the best team of all time which was West Indies.In 2 series he defeated Ian Botham in his prime for the man of the serise award in 1981-82 at home and in 1982 away.At Lords in1982 he was simply a revelation with his swashbuckling 89 and sensational spell of 3 wickest on the penultimate day that ressurected India to gain moral glory and send tremors in te English camp.He went on to play a major role in India's 1st ever win at Lords in 1986 with his bowling and with the bat in 1990 repeated his impact of 1982.Earlier in 1979-80 versus Pakistan he played the biggest role in India upsetting the formidable Pakistan team that was considered unbeatable at the start of the series.His 32 wickets at 17.68 and average of 88 with scores of 84 and 69 was a phenomenal performance.In 1983 at home versus West Indies he was joint man of the series with Malcolm Marshall having the best bowling average.In 1983 in West Indies Kapil had scores of 100 not out and 98 against the best pace attack ever.I can also never forget his 163 at Madras in 1986 to save India from a follow on.The spells I can never forget him bowl were hi 9-83 at Ahmedabad v West Indies and 8-85 at Lahore in 1982-83 where he reminded you of a marathon man.It was a sight to behold watching Kapil steam in with the heart of a tiger and skill of a gladiator.To top it all in 1992 he gave an outstanding batting performance in a test in South Africa where even if not staving off defeat he restored India's pride.
In ODI cricket he wast he best of all all-rounders .His 175 n.o v Zimbawe in 1983 world cup resurrected a team from the grave to reach the pinnacle of glory like no cricketer in an ODI.In the 1985 world championship of cricket his audacious strokeplay and penetrative bowling played a major role in India's victory.
Potentially he was close to the Sober's class.His impact on Indian cricket is comparable to that of Tendulkar and Gavaskar and he has shaped more cricketing wins than either of them for India.
Scoring 5248 runs and capturing 434 wickets are amazing statistics.He took 5 wickets on 23 occasions but captured 7 or more wickets 4 times in his test career which is remarkable.9.83 v West Indies,8-85 and 7-56 versus Pakistan and 8-120 v Australia.
True his batting average was only 31 and bowling average 29.64.Still remember the brunt of the team Kapil had to carry on his back with no support from conditions.
Hadlee even if a lone warrior had the assistance of seaming surfaces at home like Botham.
To me Kapil had the potential to win more games than Kallis with his attacking demeanour and at his best was more impactful. .
Kapil lacked Imran's responsibility with the bat but was more talented and could change the complexion of a game with his batting at his best considerably more.
I feel Kapil was similar to Botham being an agressive stroke-player and fast-medium bowler .Significant that in every department he outplayed Botham against West Indies.Imran and Hadlee were basically great fast bowlers who later became good batsmen.
To change a game with both bat and bal I would prefer
the like sof Botham and Kapil rather than Imran,Kallis or Hadlee.
Sadly Kapil fell out due to lack of consistency and possibly temperament.
Potentially he was close to the Sober's class.His impact on Indian cricket is comparable to that of Tendulkar and Gavaskar and he has shaped more cricketing wins than either of them for India.
In the analysis of all-time great cricketers Kapil has been ranked 48th by Cristopher Martin Jenkins, around 35th by Geoff Armstrong and 40th by David Gower.Both ranked him above Kallis but surprisingly Armstrong rated him above Keith Miller.In my analysis Kapil would rank in the category of Curtly Ambrose,Javed Miandad,Alan Border,Graham Gooch and a shade below Wasim Akram,Greg Chappell,Ian Botham ,Jacques Kallis or Keith Miller as a cricketer.Still above Clive Lloyd,Mike Procter,David Gower,Zaheer Abbas,Virendra Sehwag etc.
Amongst all-rounders just by a whisker I would rate him below the likes of Imran,Miller,Botham or Kallis and on par with Hadlee,with Gary Sobers simply supreme.Overall around 45th place as a cricketer and sixth place as an all-rounder This is my subjective opinion but on a given day with a gun on my head I may rank him in the top 5 giving due respect to his phenomenal contribution as an entertainer and a sportsman.Very close to the 5 most entertaining cricketers of all.At his best to me as an all-rounder Kapil was only behind Sobers and Botham.In ODI'S without hesitation he is my no 1.
STATISTICS FROM S.RAJESH OF CRICINFO
He announced himself in no uncertain terms in his first series, exhibiting pace and aggression hitherto unseen among Indian bowlers, but in statistical terms the returns from that series were meagre - seven wickets at an average of more than 60. In his first 10 Tests, he conceded more than 39 runs per wicket, and his batting was a stronger suit than his bowling. Sixteen wickets in four Tests against England started the golden run with the ball, and he followed that with 28 wickets in the home series against Australia and 32 in six Tests against Pakistan at an average of less than 18.
Those performances signalled a peak in Kapil's bowling career, when the pace was sharp, the outswinger working to perfection, and the wickets coming his way at a quick rate. In the 13 series he played between July 1979 and December 1983, Kapil's bowling average went beyond 32 in only three series, while seven times he averaged less than 26. That was also the period when he averaged more than four wickets per Test, and took a five-for 17 times in 52 Tests.
He still turned in lion-hearted performances with the ball after that, but not with the same consistency: in 69 Tests from the beginning of 1984, Kapil's wicket tally dropped to 2.7 per Test, and he also went an entire series - three Tests against Australia at home in 1986 - without a wicket. His batting, though, went up a notch, thus ensuring that his batting average was higher than his bowling average in each of those three periods of his Test career. Of his eight Test centuries, five came during this phase.
Kapil Dev's Test career in three parts Period Runs Average 100s Wickets Average 5WI
First ten Tests 510 42.50 1 29 39.06 1
Next 52 Tests 1973 27.40 2 218 26.19 17
Next 69 Tests 2765 32.52 5 187 32.20 5
Career 5248 31.05 8 434 29.64 23
Kapil's best phase as an ODI bowler coincided with two famous victories in world events for India. During the period between May 1983 and March 1986, when India won the World Cup and the World Championship of Cricket, he averaged 31.25 with the bat and 20.39 with the ball, taking 69 wickets in 47 games. His performances remained impressive till the early 1990s, but in the last couple of years of his career his numbers fell away alarmingly: in 36 matches he averaged 13.50 with the bat and more than 37 with the ball. The only aspect that wasn't affected was his economy rate, which remained well below four runs per over.
Towards the beginning of the 1990s, the positive difference between his batting and bowling averages also began to close. Through most of the 1980s his batting average was more than the corresponding one for bowling, but the last time this happened was on December 15, 1991,when, after his 176th ODI, his batting average was 0.13 higher. As he neared the end of his career, his batting and bowling prowess both decreased, and he ended with a batting average almost four runs lower than the bowling one. (Click here for his cumulative ODI averages.)
Kapil's ODI career Period ODIs Runs Average Strike rate Wickets Average Econ rate
Till April 1983 32 608 20.96 107.80 34 31.20 3.78
May 1983 to Feb 1986 47 1000 31.25 98.91 69 20.39 3.51
March 1986 to March 1992 110 1878 24.71 93.75 123 28.17 3.81
Since April 1992 36 297 13.50 74.06 27 37.48 3.62
Career 225 3783 23.79 95.07 253 27.45 3.71
Kapil's overall numbers are impressive enough, but what stands out are his bowling stats against the best team of his generation. In 25 Tests against West Indies, Kapil took 89 wickets, which is his second-highest against a single team (he took 99 against Pakistan). The average of 24.89 is his best against any team, marginally better than the 25.35 he averaged in 20 Tests against Australia.
In the 1980s, Kapil was among the best bowlers against a line-up that included Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Richie Richardson. He dismissed Greenidge eight times in Tests, and Haynes, Richards and Dujon seven times each. (Click here for more details.) In 19 Tests, Kapil's bowling average against West Indies was less than 23; among those who bowled at least 1200 deliveries against them during this period, only Imran Khan and Richard Hadlee, the two other great allrounders of the era, had better bowling averages. Ian Botham's numbers were a huge contrast to those of the three other allrounders, though: in 19 Tests he took only 58 wickets at an average of almost 36.
Best Test bowlers versus West Indies in the 1980s (Qual: 1200 balls bowled) Bowler Tests Wickets Average Strike rate 5WI/10WM
Imran Khan 10 52 16.68 38.3 5/ 1
Richard Hadlee 10 51 22.03 49.1 4/ 1
Kapil Dev 19 72 22.98 51.4 4/ 1
Abdul Qadir 8 40 28.07 55.2 1/ 0
Graham Dilley 11 36 28.77 56.6 1/ 0
Looks so credible 
