Kapil Dev, the former India cricket captain, and World Cup winner has been appointed as the new President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). Known for his passion for golf and previous role as Vice President on the PGTI Board, Kapil Dev succeeds H R Srinivasan, whose term has concluded.
Kapil, on his new position, said, “It is an honor to become the President of PGTI, an organization with which I have now been associated for quite a few years. It is a player’s body, and I am great friends with all of them and with whom I often play.”
He added, “And now it is the sport where I spend most of my time. I have been a Vice President, and I am on the Board, so it’s an honor to be chosen by the players to be the President. I promise to do my best as I always have. What gives me even greater pleasure is that I will be able to spend more time with my golfing friends and play a little more.”
Kapil, who once dreamed of representing India at the Asian Games when it was limited to amateurs, also stated that golf has been his passion for over three decades.
He has actively sought new sponsors for PGTI and introduced the prestigious Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational at DLF Golf and Country Club, featuring a Rs 2 crore purse (approx. USD 240,000). His celebrity status and dedication to golf have also earned him invitations to renowned events like the Dunhill Links, where he played alongside global celebrities.
Kapil said, “Golf is a great sport. You can play it till any age and it is an amazingly relaxing sport. I am busy with cricket often, but it is a golf course I go to for relaxation. I am fortunate to be able to serve golf and I want to take it to new levels.”
Kapil Dev, a cricketing legend, played for India from 1978 to 1994. He captained India to victory in the 1983 World Cup, known for his iconic 175 not out. In Tests, he scored 5248 runs and took 434 wickets, setting a world record.
In ODIs, he scored 3783 runs and took 253 wickets. He counts top stars like Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa, and Shiv Kapur among his close golfing friends.