All-time combined India-New Zealand ODI XI

#7 Kapil Dev (c)

Kapil Dev is one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game

Throughout his illustrious career, Kapil Dev was the face of the Indian pace bowling attack. Kapil toiled on the morale-shattering pitches of India and went on to become its greatest pacer in a remarkable fashion. He was a devastating lower order batsman too.

Kapil’s unbeaten 175 in 1983 World Cup that rescued India from dire straits against Zimbabwe is ample proof of his destructive power with the willow and the ability to turn the match on its head.

It is indisputable that Kapil Dev is by far India’s greatest all-rounder in both formats of the game and also its first pace bowling hero. Even after trying so many options, India’s search for the next Kapil Dev seems to be fruitless and interminable.

Kapil’s ODI batting Strike Rate of 95 is awe-inspiring even by today’s standards. Considering the fact that he played in an era where a Strike Rate of 70 was considered very decent, his strike rate is even more admirable.

He was fantastic as captain too and led the team to its maiden World Cup triumph in 1983, which demonstrated to the world that the Indians could no longer be considered as a bunch of pushovers. For his spectacular all-round ability and captaincy skills, ‘the Haryana Hurricane’ walks into ‘Ind-NZ combined XI’ as the captain.