Sunil Gavaskar was the first batter to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket. He recalled the performance of his former teammate Kapil Dev, who is still labelled as the greatest Indian all-rounder. Kapil led India in the 1983 World Cup in England and was magnificent with the bat and ball.
On Day 2 of the first Test between India and England in Leeds, Gavaskar discussed the fast bowlers and mentioned Kapil’s name.
“India have produced great fast bowlers over the years. Kapil Dev started it. He developed the art of taking wickets on Indian pitches, which are famous for assisting spinners,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
“He was the darling of the crowd like Rishabh Pant today. He was flamboyant as a batter and bowler. Young cricketers wanted to be like him,” he added.
In 131 Tests for India, Kapil took 434 wickets at an average of 29.64. The right-handed batter amassed 5248 runs at an average of 31.05, including 8 hundreds and 27 fifties.
Kapil represented the Men in Blue in 225 ODIs, accumulating 3783 runs, with the help of 1 century and 14 fifties. He also took 252 scalps at an average of 27.45.
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