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Imran Khan vs Kapil Dev (ODIs)

Better ODI cricketer


  • Total voters
    28

Jumno

First Class Debutant
I sense Imran was a better middle order batsman, a world class bowler and Kapil was a useful odi bowler, a batsman who can bat at number 7, play a cameo.

Imran
 

ma1978

International Debutant
What is the clear difference? Imran averages 10 more points with the bat and was a worldclass bowler until only the end of his career.

You don't have an argument aside from rating and even then that ignore most of their careers. None.
The strike rate is vastly more important than the average

Their career bowling figures are nearly identical
 

Jumno

First Class Debutant
It is a tough one.

Kapil Dev a genuine number seven, who could hit a knock, hit a quick knock.

A valuable pacer too.

On the other hand, Imran was a genuine middle order batsman and a great fast bowler.

I feel Imran edges it. Tough call, both very valuable.
 

J_C

U19 Captain
Kapil more likely to thrash an ATG attack (like he did against the WI at Berbice in 1983), Imran could tonk a few every now and then but was generally better suited to holding up an end against trundlers.

Against common Top 6 opponents, Kapil actually has a better bowling average, better ER and more 4fers/5fers than Imran.

And frankly Kapil leading India to the 1983 WC win against the GOAT West Indian side is way more iconic than Imran winning against a modest English side in 1992.

Kapil takes it.
 

ma1978

International Debutant
Kapil more likely to thrash an ATG attack (like he did against the WI at Berbice in 1983), Imran could tonk a few every now and then but was generally better suited to holding up an end against trundlers.

Against common Top 6 opponents, Kapil actually has a better bowling average, better ER and more 4fers/5fers than Imran.

And frankly Kapil leading India to the 1983 WC win against the GOAT West Indian side is way more iconic than Imran winning against a modest English side in 1992.

Kapil takes it.

True that, this was arguably the GOAT ODI all rounder performance.
 

smash84

The Tiger King
Having seen a bit of both, I think Kapil gets a bit underrated in ODIs. Imran was a better upper order batsman but Kapil could tonk it nicely every now and then. He wasn't the one to stick around and his role really didn't really need him to do that either. Add to that he was actually a better ODI bowler than Imran because he just had better variety adapted to the ODI game which he used to better effect as well. Imran in ODIs was a bit one dimensional. Ironically, it was Imran who taught Wasim how to bowl the yorker but his own bowling at the death wasn't quite as good as Wasim or even Kapil. His bowling also fell away quite a bit more in the last couple of years than Kapil's. So, Kapil for mine as an ODI player.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
Kapil more likely to thrash an ATG attack (like he did against the WI at Berbice in 1983), Imran could tonk a few every now and then but was generally better suited to holding up an end against trundlers.

Against common Top 6 opponents, Kapil actually has a better bowling average, better ER and more 4fers/5fers than Imran.
This is kinda misleading. Against the strong opposition (WI, Aus, Eng, Pak, SA), Kapil averaged 24, 20, 29, 15 and 16 with the bat and 28, 27, 28, 26 and 31 with the ball.

Imran sans SA averaged 33, 35, 29, 21 with the bat and 28, 28, 23, 22 with the ball.


And frankly Kapil leading India to the 1983 WC win against the GOAT West Indian side is way more iconic than Imran winning against a modest English side in 1992.
Cornered Tiger Imran? Don't think so. But we can disagree.
 

Jumno

First Class Debutant
Both WC wins were epic.

Imran had to win against Aus, Sri L/Zim and NZ.

NZ in the semi and Eng in the final.
 

ma1978

International Debutant
I don’t deny the Imran World Cup was epic but I blame Imran for destroying the fabric of Pakistani cricket with his issues towards Miandad and Abbas and his rivalry with the Mohammed clan
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
I don’t deny the Imran World Cup was epic but I blame Imran for destroying the fabric of Pakistani cricket with his issues towards Miandad and Abbas and his rivalry with the Mohammed clan
What? That's absurd.

Miandad in the early 80s caused a player revolt against his captaincy and Imran was the compromise captain.

Imran and Miandad despite their differences worked together to form a formidable team.

Pak's stock under Imran rose considerably in both formats regardless of whatever selections choices you disagree with.

Imran left Pakistan as world champions with the core (Anwar, Sohail, Inzi, Ijaz, Malik, Moin, Wasim, Waqar, Mushtaq) of a worldclass team. Whatever happened after him (infighting and match-fixing and captaincy rotation) can't be blamed on him really.
 

ma1978

International Debutant
What? That's absurd.

Miandad in the early 80s caused a player revolt against his captaincy and Imran was the compromise captain.

Imran and Miandad despite their differences worked together to form a formidable team.

Pak's stock under Imran rose considerably in both formats regardless of whatever selections choices you disagree with.

Imran left Pakistan as world champions with the core (Anwar, Sohail, Inzi, Ijaz, Malik, Moin, Wasim, Waqar, Mushtaq) of a worldclass team. Whatever happened after him (infighting and match-fixing and captaincy rotation) can't be blamed on him really.
With the talent Pakistan had in the 1980s and 1990s there should have been a dynasty equivalent to Australia and Windies. The fact that it never came close is a failure of leadership. The corrosion of Pakistani civil society in the Zia ul Haq years also a contributor.

I believe Imran set a personal example and inspired respect but he also sowed division and contributed to a negative culture.
 

subshakerz

Hall of Fame Member
With the talent Pakistan had in the 1980s and 1990s there should have been a dynasty equivalent to Australia and Windies. The fact that it never came close is a failure of leadership. The corrosion of Pakistani civil society in the Zia ul Haq years also a contributor.

I believe Imran set a personal example and inspired respect but he also sowed division and contributed to a negative culture.
That's an exaggeration. Pakistan had stronger batting resources in the 70s than the 80s but Imran achieved better results with his team.

You should compare Imran to what success Pakistan had before and the difference is night and day. Took his team to no.1 briefly and won series in Eng and Ind, won multiple ODI championships too.

For the 90s team, I agree they massively underachieved but that was due to internal reasons than any Imran effect. Look at the quality of the team he left behind, most who he personally selected or groomed.

You are blaming Imran as an individual who succeeded despite the system rather than the system itself.
 

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