The right choice, say Kapil's peers

Wisden's decision to name all-rounder Kapil Dev as India's cricketer of the century was welcomed by the country's former Test players on Wednesday.

Kapil, the ex-captain who led India to their lone World Cup triumph in 1983, was picked ahead of former batsman Sunil Gavaskar and modern-day icon Sachin Tendulkar by a 35-member panel comprising international commentators and former players.

His peers said Kapil was the right choice because he could alter the result of a match single-handedly.

"I don't think anyone has won more matches for India individually," said former Test spinner Maninder Singh.

"He could change the nature of his game with his bowling, batting, fielding and captaincy. That puts him ahead of everyone else."

Kapil took 434 wickets at 29.64 apiece and scored 5,248 runs at an average of 31.05.

He made his debut for India as a 19-year-old in the 1978-79 season against Pakistan. He played 131 Tests and 225 one-dayers in a career spanning over 16 years.

"I am very happy for Kapil, he richly deserved the award," said Madan Lal, a member of Kapil's World Cup-winning team and now a national selector.

"THE GREATEST"

"It's a good decision by the jury, there was never any doubt in my mind that Kapil is the greatest."

Kapil is the only cricketer in history to score more than 5,000 Test runs and take more than 400 wickets. His mark of 434 wickets stood as a record until West Indian Courtney Walsh surpassed it just two years ago.

"It's a very intelligent decision by the panel to name Kapil," said former Test opener Chetan Chauhan.

"Gavaskar, Kapil and Sachin were the frontrunners but because of his ability to contribute with both the bat and ball they have gone with Kapil."

Kapil's most memorable knock was an unbeaten 175 in the 1983 World Cup against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells in England, where he rescued India from 17 for five to 266 in 60 overs.

Tendulkar won the people's choice award at a ceremony in London on Tuesday, while Gavaskar's team of 1985 -- winners of the World Series Cup in Australia -- was picked as the best Indian team of the century.

Tendulkar has scored 29 Test centuries and a world record 33 one-day hundreds. Gavaskar, the first man to score 10,000 Test runs, has a world record 34 Test centuries. He played his last Test in 1987.

Mail Cricket Editor