07 January,2009 09:01 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
MiD DAY talks to India's cricketing legend on turning 50
WHILE birthdays more often than not bring back fond memories, former India skipper Kapil Dev has a different tale to tell. In fact, on a lighter note, he would have been better off celebrating his birthdays at home instead of some of the career low points he faced on January 6.
India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain turned 50 yesterday.
"Going by the Indian cricket calendar, most of my birthdays during my playing days would be spent at fixed locations. And the most memorable of these were in Sydney (traditionally, all Sydney Tests start on January 2 except for the ongoing Aus vs SA Test which kicked off on January 3).
"But I must add that they've not exactly been happy memories given that more often than not we were in a losing position," the former all-rounder told MiD DAY.
Those days...
"We wouldn't fare too well against the Australians in their backyard. And though that was nothing to be ashamed of, what hurt was when once we were in a strong position, all set to secure a series victory, and rain spoilt the day and that was my birthday," explained India's World Cup-winning skipper.
Kapil Dev spent three of his birthdays donning Test whites at the SCG. His first being in the third Test on January 2, 1981, where Australia beat India by an innings and four runs.
However, his next birthday in Australia would've hurt more. In the third Test in 1986, India posted a mammoth 600 runs batting first. In reply, Australia folded for 396 and were struggling at 119 for six in the subsequent follow on, when (on January 6) the heavens opened in support of the hosts washing away any hopes of a historic series victory by India. Kapil, the then skipper of the team witnessed a 0-0 scoreline to the series.
Kapil's third and final shot at the Aussies on their home turf in 1991 is another memory he'd rather have erased.
Though the third Test in Sydney was a keenly contested draw, India lost the series 0-4, losing the other four matches (Australia won in Brisbane by 10 wickets, in Melbourne by eight wickets, in Adelaide by 38 runs and in Perth by 300 runs) rather comprehensively.
"My teammates however always made sure they had some sort of a celebration each time irrespective of whether we were winning or losing. But the rains on January 6, 1986 denying us a series win, hurt a lot," said the veteran of 131 Tests, who at 431 wickets plucked the world record of most Test wickets off the legendary Richard Hadlee.
Even today birthdays don't call for big celebrations for Kapil. "Just a quiet dinner with family and friends for me," he said.
And as for the thought of age catching up? "Ek din main aadmi na budha hota hai aur na jawan ho sakta hai (one day cannot make anyone old or young), " added Kapil in his own inimitable style.
