Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev has been unanimously appointed as the new President of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), signaling a unique crossover from cricketing legend to golf’s administrative forefront.
The 65-year-old succeeds H R Srinivasan at the helm of the PGTI, an organisation he has been associated with since 2021 as a board member and, more recently, as Vice President. His appointment comes at a pivotal time for Indian golf, which is steadily gaining prominence on the global stage.
“It’s an honour to become the President of PGTI, an organisation with which I’ve now been associated for quite a few years,” Dev said. “It’s a players’ body, and I’m great friends with all of them, with whom I often play, ,” Dev said after taking office. “I promise to give it 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.”
Dev’s connection to the sport isn’t just ceremonial. While best known for captaining India to its historic 1983 Cricket World Cup triumph, Dev has long been passionate about golf. Post-retirement, he became a serious amateur golfer, even aspiring to represent India at the Asian Games—an ambition cut short by eligibility criteria that restricted participation to amateurs.
His impact on Indian golf extends beyond the fairway. Kapil Dev played an instrumental role in launching the Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational at DLF Golf and Country Club—a high-profile tournament that has drawn corporate backing, marquee players, and increased media visibility to the domestic tour. Beyond the greens, his stature alone brings a rare visibility to Indian golf, a sport long overshadowed by cricket’s dominance.
Since its establishment in 2006—succeeding the Indian PGA Tour—the PGTI has quietly built itself into the backbone of Indian professional golf. It functions as a key feeder tour to higher-level circuits like the Asian Tour, offering Indian players a platform to hone their skills and gain international exposure. Dev’s appointment is likely to accelerate this growth, enhancing visibility and bringing broader public and commercial interest to Indian golf.
His longstanding relationships with top Indian golfers such as Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal, and Shiv Kapur are also seen as assets in uniting and elevating the domestic golf ecosystem. Kapil Dev has also represented Indian golf at prestigious international events like the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, where he played alongside global sporting icons and celebrities.
A pioneer in Indian sport, Dev remains the only cricketer to have scored over 5,000 Test runs and taken more than 400 wickets. Since retiring in 1992, he has served as national coach, commentator, and in 2019, was appointed Chancellor of the Sports University of Haryana.
Now, with a golf club in hand and a new leadership mandate, Kapil Dev’s second sporting innings is set to shape the future of Indian golf—bringing with him the same passion, discipline, and vision that once revolutionised Indian cricket.
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