Kapil Dev was the complete cricketer who excelled in every department of the game.He was the first fast bowler from India,was the first Indian to score a ODI century(till recently it was the fastest century in a world cup),was the highest wicket taker in the world,scored more than 5000+ runs in test and close to 4000 runs in ODI,only Indian to have lift the world cup trophy,phew......and inspite of all those records Kapil Dev has not got the recognition he deserved from the public and the media.Also one should not forget that he has made all those runs in international cricket batting at 6,7 positions where most of the time he gets to bat with tailenders.Its his ability to blast the opposition at will that he could muster so many runs.
What surprises me was that Kapil took most of the wickets in India where the pitches are dead for fast bowlers and consider tha fact that an Indian fast bowler was the highest wicket taker in the world.Its only possible b’coz’ of his determination as most of fast bowlers in international cricket dread to bowl in India due to the pitches.
That Kapil was chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Century (where he piiped the likes of Gavaskar & Sachin Tendulkar) and Ceat International cricketer of the century (where he beat the likes of Ian Botham,Allan Border,Viv Richards,Richard Hadlee) shows his contribution to Indian Cricket.
The void which Kapil has left in Indian Cricket can be felt by the fact that India could not get an allrounder as yet since he retired.That space will be left vacant for many years.
As the saying goes,India will have a Sunil Gavasker every 50 years, a Sachin Tendulkar every 100 years but theres no guarantee of a Kapil Dev even after 200 years.
Thanks Kapil for the entertainment you have given to us in cricket.

Who is your favorite sports player in this field?

Kapil Dev who else