First Indian to Score an ODI Century – Kapil Dev’s Historic Knock
One Day International (ODI) cricket has always been a format full of excitement and memorable performances. For Indian cricket, one of the earliest milestones came when Kapil Dev became the first Indian to score an ODI century.
When Did Kapil Dev Score India’s First ODI Century?
Kapil Dev achieved this feat on 17 October 1979, during the match against West Indies at Berbice, Guyana. He scored a brilliant 175* runs, which was not only India’s first century in ODIs but also one of the finest innings in limited-overs history.
Kapil Dev’s Innings in Detail
Kapil Dev came to the crease when India was under pressure. His counter-attacking approach changed the momentum of the game. He smashed the West Indies bowlers to all parts of the ground and displayed his trademark fearless batting. This innings showed the world that India had a powerful all-rounder who could dominate world cricket.
Impact of Kapil Dev’s Knock
- Marked the beginning of India’s journey in ODI batting milestones.
- Inspired future generations of aggressive Indian batsmen.
- Built Kapil Dev’s reputation as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history.
Kapil Dev and India’s ODI Journey
Before Kapil Dev’s century, India had struggled in the ODI format. Runs came slowly and centuries seemed difficult to achieve. His knock set a benchmark and encouraged a fearless batting style, which was later seen in great Indian batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, and other ODI legends.
Other ODI Milestones
After Kapil Dev, many Indian batsmen went on to register their names in the record books. Some notable ones include:
- Sachin Tendulkar’s first innings as an ODI opener
- First International T20 century
- Batsmen scoring 10,000+ ODI runs
Conclusion
Kapil Dev’s innings remains a golden chapter in Indian cricket history. As the first Indian batsman to score an ODI century, he set the stage for future Indian batting greats. His fearless approach not only gave India confidence in the ODI format but also inspired the team towards the 1983 World Cup triumph.
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