In Indian cricket history, who received the Wisden Award for the Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks your knowledge of major cricket honours and awards related to Indian players. Wisden is often described as the bible of cricket, and receiving a special title from Wisden for an entire century is a rare honour. Knowing who was recognised as the Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century tells you about the impact that player had on Indian and world cricket over a long period. This type of general knowledge often appears in competitive exams, sports quizzes, and interviews where awareness of iconic sports personalities is useful.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The award is specifically called the Wisden Award for the Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century.
• The time frame is the entire 20th century, not just a decade or a particular series.
• The options list famous Indian cricketers who could realistically be considered for such an honour.
• Only one player actually received this particular Wisden recognition.

Concept / Approach:
The correct approach is to recall which Indian cricketer Wisden selected when it reviewed the contributions of Indian players over the 20th century. While many Indian legends such as Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar have exceptional records, the Wisden decision considered overall impact, match winning ability, all round contribution, and importance to Indian cricket in a developing era. Kapil Dev, as a world class fast bowler and genuine all rounder who led India to its first Cricket World Cup title in 1983, stood out in this assessment.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the question carefully and note that it asks about the Wisden Award for the Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century, not just a random best player poll.Step 2: Recall that Wisden chose Kapil Dev for this special honour, recognising his all round greatness and leadership.Step 3: Compare this memory with the options and identify that Kapil Dev appears exactly as one of the choices.Step 4: Confirm that no other option matches this specific Wisden title, so Kapil Dev is the only valid answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify is to remember that when cricket historians discuss this Wisden recognition, they often mention the combination of Kapil Dev's batting, bowling, and captaincy, especially the 1983 World Cup win. Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar have greater batting records, but this particular Wisden award was focused on overall influence and all round contribution over the entire century. Cross checking with standard sports reference books, older sports magazines, or reliable cricket portals also confirms that Kapil Dev was named the Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century by Wisden.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Sachin Tendulkar is widely known as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, but he did not receive this specific Wisden title for the 20th century.
• Sunil Gavaskar revolutionised opening batting for India, yet Wisden did not select him for this particular honour.
• Rahul Dravid is an all time great batsman and excellent slip fielder, but he was never named Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century by Wisden.
• Anil Kumble is a legendary spinner and match winner, but again he did not receive this specific Wisden award.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often jump to Sachin Tendulkar because he is extremely famous and holds many batting records. Another common confusion is between Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, because both were giants of Indian cricket in the 1970s and 1980s. Some learners also misread the phrase 20th Century and think only about the 1990s. It is important to read the award name carefully and remember that Wisden was honouring a full century of contribution, not just statistical dominance in one format. Avoid guessing based purely on popularity and instead recall the specific award.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Kapil Dev, who was chosen by Wisden as the Indian Cricketer of the 20th Century for his all round brilliance and historic impact on Indian cricket.