Imran vs Kapil Dev

[Matt79]

In ODIs only, and across all aspects of the game. Who would you rather have?

Imran

Kapil

 

[Lambu]

In ODIs i would go with the better batsmen..hence Kapil.

 

[Precambrian]

Even the most hardcore Indian fans would say it's Imraaaan the maaaan.

Me too.

 

[silentstriker]

Actually, this is a little closer in ODIs. In Tests, obviously its not even a contest. But because I can't give a crap about ODIs, I'll take the better Test player.

 

[biased indian]

in ODI as a player only it hard to choose.... so will take kapil dev

 

[G.I.Joe]

Kapil Dev. Better batting SR and bowling ER. Lesser not outs.

 

[SJS]

Don Bradman is soooooo over rated

 

[nightprowler10]

Imran going purely on stats. Never really did see or read much of either one as far as ODIs go.

 

[Matt79]

Don Bradman is soooooo over rated

One fears you've missed the sarcasm inherent in the irrelevant third option...

 

[Matt79]

Actually think this is pretty close. Imran has the slightly better bowling record, and a higher average, but Kapil Dev has a phenomenal strike rate with the bat. Both led their teams to World Cup triumphs...

 

[Precambrian]

Shouldnt it be test matches + ODIs? Because back in those days, there was no particular specialisation in Tests or ODIs as such.

I voted for Imran misreading it to include tests as well. Now I;ve to go and refresh my knowledge about these two greats' ODI performances.

 

[Matt79]

Shouldnt it be test matches + ODIs? Because back in those days, there was no particular specialisation in Tests or ODIs as such.

I voted for Imran misreading it to include tests as well. Now I;ve to go and refresh my knowledge about these two greats' ODI performances.

There weren't specialist ODI players as such in the way there is today, but the two games were always different and different players had different relative strengths. The answer to who was the better cricketer overall, Tests + ODIs is totally obvious and not a very interesting question. In ODIs alone, its a much more interesting question.

 

[quick4mindia]

Reckon Kapil as a better batsman and Imran as better bowler in any format of the game. ODIs Kapil would be the choice for his good batting......even if he has to bowl as a 5th bowler.

 

[Richard]

Personally I'd never remotely countenance picking a 1970s\80s ODI team without both players (and Richard Hadlee too FTR) so as to "who'd you pick?" I'd answer both. But as to "who was better?" - Kapil appears to have been marginally the better player.

Said it before though, my knowledge of 1970s\80s ODIs is not immense. Tests were far more interesting in those days.

 

[Anil]

batting - both were pretty close in one dayers, kapil has maybe a few more heroic innings than imran...
bowling - imran at his best was clearly better, dev was a very good one day bowler as well...
fielding - kapil clearly ahead here...the more athletic fielder...

overall i feel imran was the better cricketer but the 50 over game did close the gap between them considerably...

 

[Migara]

Kapil Dev for me.His heroic batting SR dwarfs even the biggest hitters of today (gilly, Symonds, Jayasuriy or Klusener) when thay are adjusted for the global averages. His bowling was also exceptional in quality in his early years

 

[krkode]

I think it's a pretty hard choice considering both these cricketers were the men around whom their respective teams revolved.

Which brings me to some number analysis. Although their bowling averages in ODIs are about the same, Imran averages 10 more with the bat in ODIs. Why is this? I don't know the specifics of how Imran's career went but it seems to me towards the end of his career he was batting at #3 and bowling very little? It seemed to be true of the world cup which was his last tournament played (at age 40, mind you!), but was it true also for the general end of his career?

That said, I'd probably go with Kapil Dev cuz he's just awesome. And so is his moustache.

 

[subshakerz]

Don't know what all this fuss is about Kapil's batting, he only averaged 23. Apart from strike rate, Imran had a notably superior batting record. Imran was a much more adaptable batsman with a better technique, he could play the part of blaster or middle order stabilizer depending on the situation, whereas with Kapil it was either smash or get out. Bowling in a no-brainer. Imran was a much superior captain, Kapil the better fielder. I agree in one-days the gap between them is not as much as tests though.

 

[Sanz]

Don't know what all this fuss is about Kapil's batting, he only averaged 23. Apart from strike rate, Imran had a notably superior batting record. Imran was a much more adaptable batsman with a better technique, he could play the part of blaster or middle order stabilizer depending on the situation, whereas with Kapil it was either smash or get out. Bowling in a no-brainer. Imran was a much superior captain, Kapil the better fielder. I agree in one-days the gap between them is not as much as tests though.

How was Imran a Superior captain in ODIs ? And also how is, Imran a better ODI bowler than Kapil, is a No Brainer ?

 

[SJS]

One fears you've missed the sarcasm inherent in the irrelevant third option...

I realise that now