Cricket legend Kapil Dev has undergone angioplasty in a Delhi hospital. He is stable and under observation in the intensive care unit of the hospital.
Kapil’s friend and former India cricketer Ashok Malhotra has confirmed that the 1983 World Cup Winning captain did not suffer a heart attack. “Kapil complained of uneasiness. He was taken to the Escort Heart Institute in South Delhi. A blockage was diagnosed during the angioplasty. The blockage has been cleared and Kapil is stable,” said Malhotra.
Among the finest all-rounders of the game and once the highest wicket taker in Test match cricket, Kapil has chronic diabetes problem.
Media reports about the heart attack to the Haryana Hurricane took millions of his fans by shock.
However, an official statement issued by the hospital also did not mention a hart-attack. “Cricketer Kapil Dev came to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (Okhla Road) emergency department at 1:00 am on 23rd October with a complaint of chest pain. He was evaluated and an emergency coronary angioplasty was performed in the middle of the night. Currently, he is admitted in ICU and under close supervision of Dr Atul Mathur and his team. Kapil Dev is stable now and he is expected to get discharged in a couple of days,” read the statement from the hospital.
Kapil Dev has led India from the front in their title triumph in the 1983 World Cup in England. India had won only one World Cup game, against East Africa, before the 1983 Cup-winning effort, which transformed the sport in the country.
His 175 against Zimbabwe when the chips were down and an athletic catch of Vivian Richards off Madan Lal have since been the unforgettable tales of cricket folklore.