Kapil Dev was removed from the captaincy primarily due to inconsistent performances soon after leading India to a historic victory in the 1983 Prudential Cup.
Context of His Removal
Despite his monumental individual efforts and the team's triumph in the 1983 World Cup, the period following this success saw fluctuations in the team's overall performance.
- Post-World Cup Inconsistency: Even after achieving what was considered an impossible feat by winning the World Cup, the team's form became erratic.
- Individual Brilliance vs. Team Performance: Kapil Dev's captaincy was marked by moments of personal brilliance, such as his career-high 175 not out against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, which almost single-handedly secured a crucial victory. However, the team's collective inconsistency ultimately led to the decision to relieve him of the captaincy.
- Brief Dropping from the Team: Further underscoring the challenges faced, Kapil Dev was even briefly dropped from the national side in 1984, highlighting the prevailing issues with consistency during that period.
His removal was a decision made in response to the team's fluctuating form, despite his significant contributions and the major cricketing achievement under his leadership.
