Kapil Dev inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Former India captain and legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at the ICC headquarters in Dubai.

A commemorative cap was presented to Kapil by ICC President David Morgan, in the presence of fellow Hall of Famer Clive Lloyd, as well as an audience of ICC officials and other invited guests.

On his induction into the Hall of Fame, Kapil said: "I am proud and happy to have been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame and it's amazing to think that I have been picked as one of the greats of Indian cricket.

"I am delighted to have been named alongside so many great players of the game. But for me, when I was growing up and from the moment I started playing cricket, the man I always looked up to was Sunil Gavaskar. Now to be named also alongside greats of the game such as Clive Lloyd, Richard Hadlee and Wasim Akram is truly fantastic," he said.

Born on 6 January 1959 in Chandigarh, Kapil is probably best known for leading India to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup while also playing in 131 Test matches and 225 ODIs in an international career that spanned 16 years.

The legendary cricketer made his ODI debut for India on 1 October 1978 against Pakistan in Quetta while his Test debut came two weeks later in Faisalabad against the same opposition.

Kapil played during what was a golden period for world-class all-rounders as other Hall of Famers including Pakistan's Imran Khan, England's Ian Botham and New Zealand's Richard Hadlee were also plying their trade at that time.

Kapil was very much part of that elite company and is seen as one of the greatest pace bowlers and finest bowling all-rounder India has ever produced. In total, he took a remarkable 434 Test wickets and 253 ODI wickets in his illustrious career.

In 1994, he became the leading wicket-taker in Tests when he overtook Hadlee, a record that was eventually broken by West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh.

Also, in 1988 he leapfrogged West Indies fast bowler, Joel Garner, to become the most successful bowler in ODIs, a record he held until 1994 when his tally of 253 wickets was surpassed by Wasim Akram.

Kapil's best bowling figures in a Test match were 11-146 against Pakistan in Chennai in 1980 while in ODIs his best match figures came in the group stage of the 1983 World Cup when he took 5-43 against Australia.

With the bat Kapil made 5,248 Test runs, including eight centuries and 27 fifties, at an average of 31.05. He also scored 3,783 ODI runs, including a top score of 175 not out which he hit against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup.

ICC President David Morgan, who presented Kapil with his hand-crafted Hall of Fame cap at the ceremony at ICC headquarters in Dubai, was glowing in his praise for the latest inductee.

"Kapil was an all-time great player," said Mr Morgan.

"He did everything. He batted, bowled and he was a fine fielder. I remember the great catch he took to dismiss Viv Richards in the 1983 World Cup final - he was on the run and the ball came over his shoulder, possibly the most difficult of catches.

"It gives me enormous pleasure to award this commemorative cap to Kapil Dev and formally induct him into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame," he added.

Lloyd, who was in attendance at the cap presentation and played against Kapil in the 1983 World Cup final said: "Kapil is a thoroughly deserving induction into the Hall of Fame. He was a fantastic cricketer and he was a great asset for Indian cricket during his time at the helm.

"He set the pace for them early on and he came to the fore and did wonderfully well - he played like a true champion and was a brilliant leader."