The pitch of Kapil Dev's innings

(##include msid=43376741,type=11##)For him, success hasn’t been decided by the toss of a coin.Playing with a straight bat on the sticky wicket that is destiny, he hassurvived the trauma of his father’s death, the agony of being dropped inhis prime and the black-spot of match-fixing allegations. Today, ifhe holds his head high as India’s greatest-ever cricketer, it is becauseKapil Dev plays on the front foot in life.keeps score as the formerIndian captain bares his scars and stripes: It all started on the streets and of Chandigarh, where I grew upplaying cricket. I was born on January 6, 1959 to Ram Lal, a timber merchant,and Raj Nikhanj, a housewife. With seven kids at home, there was always someactivity or the other! Whenever one of us was feeling low, the others wouldcheer him up. My childhood is full of the aromas of my mother’scooking... — it was a treat! Non-veg food —what my-loving father had hunted— was reserved for the weekends. My parents, six siblings and I always hadour meals together. Ours was indeed a close-knitfamily. At the all-boy DAV School in Chandigarh where Istudied, having a girlfriend catapulted one to a higher status — but I wasnever one of the lucky boys! I was a poor student and extremely naughty. When Iwasn’t playing cricket, I was either driving a scooter aroundschool or watching movies. I was a fan of Dharamji, Amitabh Bachchan, ShatrughanSinha, Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. When I flunked the class VIII exams, Ikept a low profile for a month and a half. Then, I went back to playing thefool. My school had a strong cricket team and breaking into thefinal XI was tough. On one occasion, seven players from my school were selectedto play against Haryana — I was the only probable left out. Unfazed bythis rejection, I promised myself that I wouldn’t miss out the next time.From then on, cricket became a challenge rather than just aninterest. My brothers and I were expected to join the familybusiness, but my father promised to help me realise my dream of playing forIndia. In 1975, when my father passed away, it was a big blow for me. I wasselected to play for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy that year —unfortunately, he was not there to seeme. For the next three years, I wasengrossed in cricket. I trained in the morning and evening while attending DAVcollege during the day. I had no time for entertainment, for girls, for anythingbut the game. At one point, my neighbours wondered when they had last seen me!It was an emotional time for me. But my family supported me in the way only afamily can. Inspired by the encouragement of Bishen Singh Bedi, MohinderAmarnath and Madan Lal, I stretched my limits. When I was selected to attend thetrials for the India under-22 team, I performed up to expectations. Thistraining camp gave me confidence. I felt that if I could hold my own against thecream of the country, I could surely be part of the Indian team someday. When India toured Pakistan in 1978, I hoped to be in the team. So,when I received a phone call informing me about my selection, I was overjoyed!My dream was about to come true and the fact that we would be playing Pakistanwasn’t of consequence. I made my debut at Faisalabad and didn’t doanything outstanding — but I was noticed. With my subsequent performances,I became an integral part of theteam. In 1979, I was at the Cricket Club of India in Bombay with friendswhen I saw a girl emerge from the swimming pool wrapped in a. We had common friends and shejoined us at our table. This was my first meeting with Romi. She talked a lot,laughed a lot. I liked whatever she did! Romi has a mind of her own — thisdrew me to her. Soon, we went outtogether. I was shy and had trouble expressing my love to Romi. Once,when we were at Colaba, we noticed an Amul hoarding with a picture of mecaptioned ‘A Kapil of these make all the difference’. I told Romithat we should take a photo under the hoarding to show our kids. ‘Are youproposing to me?’ she asked. ‘What does it sound like?’ Ireplied. I had finally proposed! Initially, our families didn’t agree tothe match, but they finally came around. We were married in Delhi on May 8,1981. Being the captain of the Indianteam, breaking Richard Hadlee’s world record for the most number of Testwickets, and being chosen as Wisden’s Indian cricketer of the century, arehigh points in my career. But nothing can beat our World Cup win in 1983. Weshowed that India could take on the world — andwin. The match-fixing issue put me through the roughest time in mylife. I regularly made the headlines for all the wrong reasons and nobody athome wanted to read the papers. If I managed to cope, it is because my family,and a few golfing friends, stood by me. Soon, I stopped letting what was beingwritten about me affectme. I realise that modelling offers come my way because of mycricketing accomplishments and not my looks. But recognition, in any form, iswelcome. Moreover, modelling brings one money. I believe that if one’svalues are in place, money makes one a stronger person. Recently, I worked withMacMillan and came out with my autobiography,. Amiya entered our lives when Romi and I had given up hope ofhaving a child. I can never forget January 16, 1996 — the day Amiya wasborn. I was inside the labour room. Honestly, immediately after she was born, Iwas more concerned about Romi. Since then, Amiya has become the most importantperson in my life even though I have to wait for her to find time for me! Amiyais busy with school, friends andtoys! I do believe in a higher power, but I am not ritualistic. Being agood human being is the only religion I know. Belief helps one accomplishwonders. God has been very kind to me. I have no regrets inlife. Nobody asked me to play cricket for the country... and do well. Ipushed myself without anybody’s bidding because I love cricket. There havebeen times when I have said what I am not supposed to — but that’sthe way I am. And I like myself this way.anubha_sawhney@indiatimes.com