Kapil Dev was born as Kapil Dev Nikhanj to Ram Lal Nikhanj (Khatri), a prominent timber merchant. His mother Raj Kumari was born in Pakpattan, in the town of the Sufi saint Baba Farid and father Ram Lal Nikhanj was from Dipalpur not far from Pakpattan. He is a former Indian cricketer, often considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He captained the Indian cricket team which won the 1983 Cricket World Cup. 

He was also India's national cricket coach for 10 months between October 1999 and August 2000. A naturally aggressive player, he often helped India in difficult situations by taking the attack to the opposition. Nicknamed The Haryana Hurricane, he represented the Haryana cricket team in domestic cricket. At the time, he was also India's highest wicket-taker in both major forms of cricket, Tests, and ODIs. On 8 March 2010, Kapil Dev was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. 

Kapil showed his batting talent with a maiden century against Delhi when he scored his career best 193 in 1979-80. On 25 July 2012, Kapil Dev informed BCCI that he has resigned from the rebel league ICL and will continue supporting them, thereby paving a way to get back into the BCCI fold. 

On 24 September 2008 Kapil Dev joined the Indian Territorial Army and was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel. He joined as an honorary officer.

Bollywood Director Kabir Khan had also made a movie on Kapil Dev. The film featured Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev and Produced by Anurag Kashyap.