What is the turning point in India’s cricket history? Well, there may be a lot of incidents but if we rank them one by one, but everyone will put the 1983 cricket world cup win at Lords’ at the top. An underdog team winning the title of world champions by defeating mighty West Indies – was certainly the point where Indians started to believe they also can go into the pitch and fight their best with the strong teams to prove themselves. Although cricket is a team game we certainly cannot deny how a person impacts this game, sometimes just winning the game by their own sheer excellence. The man, whose contribution Indian cricket cannot deny, who led the team to this peak – marks his 62nd birthday today – Kapil Dev Nikhanj.

Undoubtedly the finest all-rounder India has ever produced and one of the greatest all-rounders of world cricket ever, Kapil Dev was the man who redefined Indian cricket, leading team India to a world cup win and changing Indian cricket forever, born in Haryana on 6th January 1959. The only all-rounder in world cricket who bagged more than 400 wickets and scoring over 5000 runs in test cricket, and also a superb fielder. He never missed out on a single match due to fitness issues.

How can someone deny the running catch backward to dismiss Sir Viv Richards in that final! Without the blistering innings of 175N.O. against Zimbabwe in the semi-final, after India was struggling 15-5 in that Innings, India couldn’t even have reached the final. His open chested bowling action, dangerous out-swing, and reverse swing deliveries were enough to fear the opposition batsman. India has always produced great batsman but our fast bowling was never so much to contribute – although he was the highest wicket-taker in world cricket for a long time. A leader, an inspiration, a pioneer of playing attacking cricket, and the person who defined not to lose before losing. We pay our homage to the maestro – ‘ Haryana Hurricane’.