Legends of Sports

Vivian Richards has once again reiterated Kapil Dev’s status as one of the world’s best all-rounder ever. Speaking at the ESPN-STAR Sports-organized World Cup promotional event in New Delhi on Thursday, Richards said, “Kapil, in my opinion, created the winning habit in the Indian team. You always felt you never really had the better of him. He was as much determined as his opponents to do well.”Recalling the events of the 1983 India-West Indies World Cup final at Lord’s, Richards said the catch that Kapil took to dismiss him would always remain special.

He reminisces: “There were no other Indian fieldsmen (on that day) who would have taken that catch. The minute the ball went up in the air and I saw Kapil getting underneath the ball, I knew my time was up.”Queried on West Indies’ chances in the upcoming World Cup, the charming 58-year-old Richards said, “The team has the capacity but needs to get themselves organized and play together as a group more often. The recent Test series against Sri Lanka should have helped them in this regard. We are hoping and praying in a big way that they do something special in the World Cup.”

Known for his destructive strokeplay and commanding presence at the crease, the dashing Caribbean hero of the past said every time he walked out to bat, he felt he belonged there.Former Pakistan skipper Imran Khan said the ability of Richards to dominate bowling attacks and not let himself get frightened by the bowlers made him stand out from the other batsmen of his era.Richards also paid glowing tributes to Virender Sehwag, saying the Indian opener is the most destructive player in world cricket at the moment.