Former Northants all-rounder Kapil Dev in 'stable' condition after suffering heart attack

The 62-year-old was admitted to a hospital in Delhi in the early hours of Friday morning in a 'critical condition', but after undergoing emergency angioplasty, a procedure to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins, is reportedly on the mend.

The news of Dev's illness was broken by journalist Teena Thacker, who tweeted: "Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev @therealkapildev suffers a heart attack, undergoes angioplasty at a hospital in Delhi. Wishing him a speedy recovery."

Dev was admitted to the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi, and the hospital later issued a statement that read: "Former Indian cricket captain Mr Kapil Dev, age 62 years, came to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (Okhla Road) emergency department at 1am on 23rd October with a complaint of chest pain.

"He was evaluated and an emergency coronary angioplasty was performed by Dr Atul Mathur, Director of Cardiology Department, in the middle of the night.

"Currently, he is admitted in ICU and under close supervision of Dr Atul Mathur and his team. Mr Kapil Dev is stable now and he is expected to get discharged in a couple of days."

Dev is one of India's all-time great cricketers, having scored more than 5,000 Test runs and taken 434 wickets - still the most by any Indian pace bowler.

He skippered India to their stunning 1983 World Cup success in England, beating the mighty West Indies in the final at Lord's.

Dev played for Northants between 1981 and 1983, making 16 first-class appearances for the club as well as playing in many one day matches, before making the switch to Worcestershire.