Kapil Dev is considered to be one of the best all-rounders to have ever played cricket. A stylish batsman and an economical bowler, Kapil Dev is idolized by players even today. It was also under his captaincy that India lifted its first World Cup trophy in 1983. Today, as the former cricketer turned 62, many members of the cricket fraternity took to social media to pour wishes on the legendary figure.
Sachin Tendulkar was one of the first to extend warm greetings on Kapil Dev’s birthday. Taking to his personal Twitter handle, Master Blaster heartily wrote: “Happy birthday @therealkapildev paaji! Wishing you a year full of happiness & health”.
He also posted a throwback picture with the older player.
Happy birthday @therealkapildev paaji!
Wishing you a year full of happiness & health. pic.twitter.com/J86R25hb8g— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 6, 2021
Present India captain Virat Kohli wished for Kapil to have a “wonderful and a healthy year” through his post on Twitter. He wrote: “Happy Birthday @therealkapildev. Wishing you happy times ahead for you and your family. Have a wonderful and a healthy year ahead”.
Happy Birthday @therealkapildev . Wishing you happy times ahead for you and your family. Have a wonderful and a healthy year ahead.
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 6, 2021
Soon the official handle of BCCI paid tribute to the legendary cricket stats of Kapil Dev.
Calling him India’s “greatest all rounder”, the tweet recalled how Kapil was the first player to take 200 ODI wickets and the only player to pick over 400 wickets and score more than 5,000 runs in Tests.
9031 intl. runs
687 intl. wickets ☝️
First player to take 200 ODI wickets
Only player to pick over 400 wickets & score more than 5000 runs in TestsWishing @therealkapildev – #TeamIndia‘s greatest all-rounder and 1983 World Cup-winning Captain – a very happy birthday pic.twitter.com/75lmx0gin2
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2021
Former player Navjot Singh Sidhu heaped praises on the former Team India captain. He wrote that Kapil was “a true leader [who was able to] ignite that spark” that made India believe that they could be the best.
When you held the World Cup from the Lords Balcony you made every Indian believe that India can be the best amongst the rest …. A true leader ignites that spark !@therealkapildev #Happy Birthday #Kapil Dev
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 6, 2021
Yuvraj Singh shared a picture with the birthday boy and wrote that he was “waiting to teeing-off” with the senior player.
Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the legendary champion & greatest all-rounder @therealkapildev paaji May you continue to be blessed with good health and success. Looking forward to teeing-off with you real soon! Have a wonderful year ahead. Best wishes pic.twitter.com/ma5ovCO8Ea
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) January 6, 2021
Harbhajan Singh, Aakash Chopra and VVS Laxman also extended wishes.
Happy birthday @therealkapildev Paji.. you are the reason for many of us playing this game..Thank you for all the love and support.. wish you a great birthday and Best health going forward #KapilDev #birthday pic.twitter.com/jHbO1226Jn
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 6, 2021
Wishing @therealkapildev a very happy birthday Pray for good health and happiness
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 6, 2021
Warm birthday wishes to a man who has touched and inspired so many lives with joy. Wishing you a blessed, healthy, fruitful, and eventful year @therealkapildev paaji pic.twitter.com/wyoGWYJZJn
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 6, 2021
There is hardly any other player who can match the records and stats set by Kapil. The all rounder ended his career with 5,248 runs to his name and 434 wickets in the 131 Tests that he had played (https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/on-this-day-january-6-1959-birth-of-kapil-dev-indias-greatest-all-rounder-3251216.html). His ODI Strike Rate was 95.07 which is the second-highest in the world during the player’s career (Oct 1978-Oct 1994).
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