Indian Cricket Records — Test Wickets How many Test wickets had Kapil Dev taken at the time of his retirement from Test cricket?
Correct Answer: 434
Introduction / Context:Kapil Dev is one of India's greatest all-rounders. His retirement wicket tally is a classic GK figure, frequently compared historically with Courtney Walsh, Shane Warne, and Muttiah Muralitharan as wicket records progressed.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- We need the exact Test wickets tally at retirement.
- Values around the mid-400s are provided; only one is historically accurate.
Concept / Approach:Use landmark memory aid: Kapil Dev surpassed Richard Hadlee's 431 to become the leading wicket-taker and retired with a distinctive number immediately recognizable in cricket trivia.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall Kapil Dev overtook Hadlee's 431.Step 2: Remember final tally upon retirement, widely cited in records and retrospectives.Step 3: Compare with options to find an exact match.Verification / Alternative check:Contemporary reports and later retrospectives uniformly list Kapil Dev's career Test wickets as 434.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- 450: Exceeds his career total at retirement.
- 430 and 435: Near-miss distractors; incorrect by record.
- None of the above: Invalid because 434 is correct and listed.
Common Pitfalls:Mixing up the surpassed number (Hadlee's 431) with Kapil's own final tally, or misremembering a rounded figure.
Final Answer:434