Happy Birthday Kapil Dev: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and others wish 1983 World Cup-winning captain

Kapil Dev, India’s first World Cup-winning cricket captain, is celebrating his 62nd birthday today. The charismatic all-rounder is the only cricketer in Test history to score over 5000 runs and take over 400 wickets. Kapil, in fact, held the world record for most Test wickets (434), going past Kiwi great Sir Richard Hadlee, and still occupies ninth spot in the all-time list. A host of cricketers, past and present, took to social media to wish the legendary cricketer. Sachin Tendulkar shared a picture with Kapil Dev and wrote, “Happy birthday @therealkapildev paaji! Wishing you a year full of happiness & health.”

Happy birthday @therealkapildev paaji!
Wishing you a year full of happiness & health. pic.twitter.com/J86R25hb8g

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 6, 2021

Virat Kohli wrote, “Happy Birthday @therealkapildev. Wishing you happy times ahead for you and your family. Have a wonderful and a healthy year ahead.”

Happy Birthday @therealkapildev 🎂. Wishing you happy times ahead for you and your family. Have a wonderful and a healthy year ahead.

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 6, 2021

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh said that Kapil Dev is the reason for many of the players who are playing cricket. He also thanked him for love and support and wished for his best health.

Happy birthday @therealkapildev Paji.. you are the reason for many of us playing this game..Thank you for all the love and support.. wish you a great birthday and Best health going forward 🙏🙏 #KapilDev #birthday pic.twitter.com/jHbO1226Jn

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 6, 2021

Wishing Kapil Dev, Navjot Singh Sidhu wrote, “When you held the World Cup from the Lords Balcony you made every Indian believe that India can be the best amongst the rest… A true leader ignites that spark!”

When you held the World Cup from the Lords Balcony you made every Indian believe that India can be the best amongst the rest .... A true leader ignites that spark !@therealkapildev #Happy Birthday #Kapil Dev

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) January 6, 2021

Shikhar Dhawan in his wish said that Kapil Dev is an inspiration to cricketers everywhere.

You’re an inspiration to cricketers everywhere 😊 Wishing you the best birthday @therealkapildev pajhi! pic.twitter.com/Se1d3ml1Mg

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) January 6, 2021

Irfan Pathan called Kapil Dev “absolute legend” of cricket and a great human being.

Absolute legend of the game, but most importantly a great human being. ⁦⁦@therealkapildev⁩ paaji wishing you a great birthday. #birthday pic.twitter.com/25fo5VJyvd

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 6, 2021

🙌 Only player in Test history to have taken more than 400 wickets and scored more than 5000 runs
🏆 1983 @cricketworldcup winning captain
🌟 An all-rounder par excellence

Happy birthday to the legendary Kapil Dev 🎂 pic.twitter.com/mGa9LHtveJ

— ICC (@ICC) January 6, 2021

VVS Laxman also wished Kapil Dev and wrote, “Warm birthday wishes to a man who has touched and inspired so many lives with joy. Wishing you a blessed, healthy, fruitful, and eventful year @therealkapildev paaji.”

Warm birthday wishes to a man who has touched and inspired so many lives with joy. Wishing you a blessed, healthy, fruitful, and eventful year @therealkapildev paaji pic.twitter.com/wyoGWYJZJn

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 6, 2021

Kapil’s former teammates Madan Lal and Chetan Sharma extended their greetings to the former captain on his big day.

Wishing you a beautiful day and many blessings for the year ahead . Happy birthday kaps @therealkapildev !! pic.twitter.com/VKvowWV0Xa

— Madan Lal (@MadanLal1983) January 5, 2021

Mentor, Captain & Elder Brother for me. Wishing you happy birthday & great year ahead Paji @therealkapildev pic.twitter.com/LsTZRvWCyk

— Chetan Sharma (@chetans1987) January 6, 2021

Former cricketers Aakash Chopra and Dodda Ganesh also wished Kapil Dev while, Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle in his wish said, “I didn’t think I would say this to one of the greatest cricketers of our time but wish you lots of happiness and golf!”

Wishing @therealkapildev a very happy birthday 🥳 Pray for good health and happiness 😇😊

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 6, 2021

A very happy birthday to #KapilDev. I didn't think I would say this to one of the greatest cricketers of our time but wish you lots of happiness and golf!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 6, 2021

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweeted that Kapil Dev is the only player to take over 400 wickets and score more than 5,000 runs in Test.

9031 intl. runs 💪
687 intl. wickets ☝️
First player to take 200 ODI wickets 👌
Only player to pick over 400 wickets & score more than 5000 runs in Tests 👊

Wishing @therealkapildev - #TeamIndia's greatest all-rounder and 1983 World Cup-winning Captain - a very happy birthday 👏 pic.twitter.com/75lmx0gin2

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 6, 2021

Teams from the IPL franchise wished the iconic player as well. The official Twitter page of IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals shared an iconic picture of Kapil Dev where he is seen holding the World Cup.

#KapilDev - setting trends since '83. 🏆🇮🇳

Happy 62nd birthday, captain. ❤️

📸 - @ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/wHAr9ILjfi

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) January 6, 2021

SunRisers Hyderabad also wished the former Indian World Cup-winning captain on his birthday.

Sending our best wishes to the former Indian World Cup winning captain on his special day! 🧡

Happy birthday, @therealkapildev 🎂#OrangeArmy #KeepRising pic.twitter.com/LWWfa4CACU

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 6, 2021

Kapil Dev has played 131 Tests and 225 ODIs. He was inducted into the International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame in 2010.