As a bowler Kapil was notable for a graceful action and a potent outswinger and was India's main strike bowler especially in the first half of his career. As a batsman he was a natural striker of the ball and often helped India when in trouble most famously on route to the World Cup finals at Lord's when he smashed an unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe helping India recover from a tenuous 5/17.
He played 131 test matches and scored 5248 runs at an average of 31.05 including 8 centuries. He took 434 wickets at an average of 29.64.