Kapil Dev’s Top 3 Bowling Performances in Test Cricket

The Indian team is a juggernaut in modern cricket but every story has its origin. The success story of the Indians on the cricket field also has an origin and there is one individual who had a monumental role in that origin. We are talking about the former India captain Kapil Dev. In this article, we will take a look at his top 3 bowling performances in Test cricket.

9/83 vs West Indies, 1983

Taking 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match is a miracle and Kapil Dev almost performed this miracle once, against West Indies. After an unprecedented high of 1983 World Cup victory team India was shown the mirror by touring West Indies. The visitors won the ODI and Test series without even losing one match but the Indian captain kept producing consistent performances. In the third match of the Test series at Ahmedabad, Kapil picked up 9 wickets in the second innings to give India a chance in the contest. 

8/85 vs Pakistan, 1983

For any Indian player performing against the arch-rivals Pakistan always means a lot. In 1983 Kapil Dev delivered one of the best bowling performances in his Test career. The fact that this spell was bowled in an aways series puts this performance right up there with the best. In the fifth Test at Lahore, India bowled Pakistan out for 323 runs in the first innings. The Indian all-rounder was instrumental in preventing the opposition from posting a humongous total with his 8 wickets. 

8/106 vs Australia, 1985

Another 8-wicket haul for Kapil Dev in Test cricket but this time against Australia in their backyard. In the series opener, India put the Kangaroos under pressure in the first innings courtesy of Kapil’s sublime wicket-taking skills. The ferocious fast bowler dismissed almost every Australian batter and stood out with a solo effort that put India in a situation in which they could have won the Test. The match eventually ended in a draw and Kapil was adjudged the player of the match.