Kapil Dev turns 63: Rare, vintage photos with wife Romi and his cricket buddies

Updated On: 06 January, 2022 07:00 AM IST |

Former World Cup-winning Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, whose biopic 83 was released last month, celebrates his birthday today. We take you back into his past to witness some memorable and personal moments in the veteran sportsman`s life through some rare and vintage photos.

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Born on January 6, 1959, better known as Kapil Dev, is a former Indian cricketer. He was named by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the Century in 2002.

In pic: Kapil Dev at age six (Pics/ mid-day archives)

<p>Kapil Dev captained the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. He was India`s national cricket coach between October 1999 and August 2000. He retired in 1994, holding the world record for the greatest number of wickets taken in Test cricket, a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. At the time, he was also India`s highest wicket taker in both major forms of cricket, Tests and ODIs.</p> <p>In pic: Kapil Dev with wife Romi on their wedding day</p>

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Kapil Dev captained the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. He was India`s national cricket coach between October 1999 and August 2000. He retired in 1994, holding the world record for the greatest number of wickets taken in Test cricket, a record subsequently broken by Courtney Walsh in 2000. At the time, he was also India`s highest wicket taker in both major forms of cricket, Tests and ODIs.

In pic: Kapil Dev with wife Romi on their wedding day

<p>He is the first player to take 200 ODI wickets. He is the only player in the history of cricket to have taken more than 400 wickets (434 wickets) and scored more than 5000 runs in Tests, making him one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game. On 11 March 2010, Kapil Dev was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.</p> <p>In pic: Kapil Dev with his wife Romi at an airport</p>

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He is the first player to take 200 ODI wickets. He is the only player in the history of cricket to have taken more than 400 wickets (434 wickets) and scored more than 5000 runs in Tests, making him one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game. On 11 March 2010, Kapil Dev was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

In pic: Kapil Dev with his wife Romi at an airport

<p>Kapil Dev was born as Kapil Dev Nikhanj to Ram Lal Nikhanj, a prominent timber merchant and his wife Raj Kumari Ram Lal Nikhanj in Chandigarh on January 6, 1959.</p> <p>In pic: Kapil Dev with wife Romi and daughter Amiya</p>

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Kapil Dev was born as Kapil Dev Nikhanj to Ram Lal Nikhanj, a prominent timber merchant and his wife Raj Kumari Ram Lal Nikhanj in Chandigarh on January 6, 1959.

In pic: Kapil Dev with wife Romi and daughter Amiya

<p>Kapil Dev`s mother was born in Pakpattan, in the town of the Sufi saint Baba Farid. His father was from Dipalpur. They lived in Shah Yakka which is now in Okara district Pakistan. His four sisters were born there before partition and his two brothers in Fazilka, where they moved after partition.</p> <p>In pic: Kapil Dev with a young Sachin Tendulkar</p>

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Kapil Dev`s mother was born in Pakpattan, in the town of the Sufi saint Baba Farid. His father was from Dipalpur. They lived in Shah Yakka which is now in Okara district Pakistan. His four sisters were born there before partition and his two brothers in Fazilka, where they moved after partition.

In pic: Kapil Dev with a young Sachin Tendulkar

<p>Kapil Dev`s father spent his early life after the partition in Fazilka. They moved to the capital city Chandigarh. Dev was a student at D.A.V. School and joined Desh Prem Azad in 1971.</p> <p>In pic: Kapil Dev with Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin. (Pic/ Getty Images)</p>

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Kapil Dev`s father spent his early life after the partition in Fazilka. They moved to the capital city Chandigarh. Dev was a student at D.A.V. School and joined Desh Prem Azad in 1971.

In pic: Kapil Dev with Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin. (Pic/ Getty Images)

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Kapil Dev spotted sporting a ponytail

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Kapil Dev remains the only cricketer in history to have over 5,000 Test runs and 400 Test wickets

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Kapil Dev with Sunil Gavaskar. These two cricketers are legends of the game

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When the day was too hot for Kapil Dev

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Kapil Dev with Mohinder Amarnath lifting the 1983 World Cup won by India

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Kapil Dev with his protege Mohammad Azharuddin

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Kapil Dev with Vinod Kambli and wife at newly-launched All Sports Bar at Andheri

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In 2002, Kapil Dev was named Indian Cricketer of the Century

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Kapil Dev all smiles with Sunil Gavaskar and Azharuddin

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Kapil Dev with teammates Dilip Vengsarkar and Kiran More

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Kapil Dev with legendary Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan at an event

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Kapil Dev with Jeetendra during the mahurat shoot for the film Aryan at Riverdi Studio

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Kapil Dev with Nana Patekar at an event

<p>A film titled 83 directed by Kabir Khan released in December 2021. The film starred Ranveer Singh in the lead role as Kapil Dev and was based on India`s historic ICC World Cup-winning campaign in 1983. The film was praised by critics and achieved success at the box office as well.</p>

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A film titled 83 directed by Kabir Khan released in December 2021. The film starred Ranveer Singh in the lead role as Kapil Dev and was based on India`s historic ICC World Cup-winning campaign in 1983. The film was praised by critics and achieved success at the box office as well.

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Kapil Dev with former Prime Minister of India late Rajiv Gandhi

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Kapil Dev with former Prime Minister of India late Narsimha Rao

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Kapil Dev with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder, Art of Living at Nehru Centre

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Kapil Dev shooting with Deepti Naval for the film Cricketer directed by Bish Mehay, in 1982

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Kapil Dev in a candid conversation with a friend

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Kapil Dev with fans in Melbourne after guiding India to a memorable win against the Aussies in 1981

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Kapil Dev tries his talent at football

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Kapil Dev has many awards to his name

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Kapil Dev with Sunil Gavaskar during a match between film actors and cricketers

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Kapil Dev raising money for the B S Chandrashekhar Benefit Fund with Sandeep Patil

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Kapil Dev with Linford Christie and Steve Ovett (former Olympians) during The Mumbai International Marathon 2005, January 16, 2005

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Kapil Dev had many hairstyles during his playing days

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Kapil Dev showing the youngsters how it`s done

<p>Kapil Dev bowling to Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede stadium during Hero Honda cricket match played between 1983 World Cup winning team v/s 1999 World Cup team as a good luck to the 1999 team on 18th April 1999</p>

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Kapil Dev bowling to Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede stadium during Hero Honda cricket match played between 1983 World Cup winning team v/s 1999 World Cup team as a good luck to the 1999 team on 18th April 1999