Kapil Dev as Indian National Cricket Coach

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For Kapil Dev's performance as cricketer, see Kapil Dev.

Kapil Dev was appointed coach of the Indian national cricket team in 1999 succeeding Anshuman Gaekwad ^[1].

1 India Team Performance
2 Match Fixing Allegation and Resignation
3 Kapil Dev's Coaching Stint-Review
4 References

[edit] India Team Performance

[edit] New Zealand tour of India

Kapil Dev's first day in office as India's Coach got off to a bad start with the team crashing to 83 all out against the visiting New Zealand in Mohali. Thanks to inspired bowling by Javagal Srinath, the lead was managed to 132 runs. India's second innings made the coach proud as India piled on 505 runs with all the top 5 batmen crossing fifty and Dravid and Tendulkar scoring centuries. India won the second test match due to the bowling of Anil Kumble at Lucknow. The third test match meandered to a draw, but not before Tendulkar recorded his first double-century in Test Cricket. In the ensuing ODI Series, India won 3-2 and the highlight was the setting of the still standing world record ODI partnership of 331 runs between Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar also recorded the highest score by an Indian batsman in ODI Cricket with an innings of 186* Runs. The series against New Zealand would be Kapil's most successful series as National Coach.

[edit] India tour of Australia

India followed the NZ tour with a trip 'down under' to Australian cricket team. India lost the test series 3-0 and the margin of defeat was heavy in each of these matches - 285 Runs^[2], 180 Runs^[3], Innings and 141 runs^[4]. The only positive aspect of the test series came in the final match when VVS Laxman scored 167 in SCG and came for much praise from the media^[5]. VVS Laxman would later produce more match winning performances against the Aussies in India and Australia. India's ODI series performance matched the test series in failure as India managed to win just 1 match against Pakistan and Kapil had to come out in defense of his team^[6].

[edit] South Africa tour of India

India had not lost a home test series since 1987 (against Pakistan) and when South Africa toured India in February - March 2000, that record was erased as India lost the home series 2-0. However events outside the field had a major role in the score line: Sachin Tendulkar relinquished Captaincy before start of the series, Mohammad Azharuddin and Nayan Mongia were recalled to the team, controversy over Azhar's injury leading to his exclusion from the first test, Sourav Ganguly made the captain of the Indian team from the second test match. Talks in the media about no way but 'UP'^[7] were not unfounded when India took a 3-0 lead in the ODI Series and finishing the series at 3-2, after South Africa won the last two matches. The result was tainted when it was learnt later that Hansie Cronje was involved in betting and there were attempts to buy-off South African players by Cronje and bookies. At the end of the series, it was felt at that time that Ganguly's attitude and captaincy was heartening^[8]. In March 2000, India participated in a triangular series with South Africa and Pakistan. With the travails of the season, it was no surprise that India won only 1 match of the four played and was knocked out of the contention for the finals.

Before Kapil Dev could chalk out the strategy with the new captain Ganguly, he and the nation will go through some rough times

[edit] Match Fixing Allegation and Resignation

[edit] Background

As the 1999/00 season was winding down, Delhi Police rocked the Cricket world when they announced that Hansie Cronje was involved in a "Cricket Match-fixing and Betting Racket"^[9]. To say that the cricket fraternity was shocked that a highly-regarded leader like Hansie Cronje was involved in match-fixing, is an understatement and UCBSA released terse statements denying these allegations^[10]^[11] as well as kickstarted a diplomatic row^[12]. When Delhi Police was relentless and started mounting the evidence, Hansie Cronje admitted to accepting money for throwing away games in a phone call with UCBSA's chief Dr. Ali Bacher^[13]. Cronje was sacked and replaced by Shaun Pollock^[14].

[edit] Prabhakar's Allegations

As the din of match-fixing was raised, former Indian player Manoj Prabhakar went public stating that his ex-captain wanted to throw away a match against Pakistan^[15]. Prabhakar's allegations against an unknown team member was not new as he made these allegations to a magazine The Outlook in 1997^[16] based on which BCCI instituted the Chandrachud Inquiry, a one man commission headed by retired Chief Justice of India - Honorable Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud. Manoj Prabhakar did not reveal names or provide evidence of his charges (Match Fixing and Phone Tapping allegation on then Cricket Manager Ajit Wadekar)^[17]. When the match fixing controversy resurfaced in 2000, BCCI released the Chandrachud Report to the media. The fury of the Indian public translated in PILs and International Cricket Council and BCCI were called to respond in Delhi High Court^[18] and Calcutta High Court^[19]. In response to the crisis, the Indian Government initiated CBI inquiry on April 28, 2000^[20]. Former BCCI President Inderjit Singh Bindra revealed on May 4, 2000 that Prabhakar told him that Kapil Dev asked him to throw away the match^[21]. During the ensuing exchanges between various parties, Kapil Dev breaking down in an interview on BBC's Hard Talk with Karan Thapar is forever etched in the memory of people^[22].

[edit] Kapil Dev's Resignation

Kapil Dev was initially not allowed to resign^[23] or take leave of absence^[24] through these times by BCCI from his coaching responsibilities. As the weeks progressed and as public discontent mounting on inaction in the match-fixing scandal and in no small measure the pressure from the then Union Sport Minister Shukdev Singh Dhindsa^[25], Kapil Dev resigned from his position of Indian Cricket Coach on September 12, 2000 vowing farewell to the game of cricket^[26].

[edit] Clearing of Match-Fixing Charges

CBI after extensive investigation and interviews of various cricketers submitted it's report to Union Sports Minister on November 1, 2000^[27]. The report on match-fixing found no credible evidence against Kapil Dev^[28]. BCCI's anti-corruption officer K Madhavan (former Joint Director of CBI) submitted his report ^[29] on November 28, 2000 in which he elaborated on players who were found to have links with the match-fixing syndicate. Madhavan concluded that Kapil Dev did not attempt to bribe Manoj Prabhakar and none of the players collaborated with Manoj's version of the events^[30]^[31]^[32]^[33].

[edit] Kapil Dev's Coaching Stint-Review

India's prodigal son had come through his ordeal unscathed. However his term as Indian cricket team's national coach will not be considered a success for the poor on-field performances^[34].

In Summary, during Kapil Dev's reign as National Coach, India performed badly outside home and managed just 3 victories in 15 games (20%) in ODI Tournaments. In Test Cricket, India lost its first home series in 13 years and managed just 1 victory in 3 test series.