Kapil Dev paid rich tributes to his coach Desh Prem Azad, who passed away in Mohali after a brief illness at the age of 75 yesterday. <img alt="Desh Prem Azad" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/aug/Desh-Prem-Azad.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 341px;" /> Desh Prem Azad The legendary India all-rounder said Azad taught him to be disciplined which played a huge role in his success. &ldquo;He was a disciplinarian. I still remember, I reached 20 minutes late for a practice session and he did not allow me to enter the nets for the next three days. He taught us discipline first and then other things. Discipline was a very crucial factor in being successful,&rdquo; a shocked Kapil told MiD DAY. Azad, who played 19 first-class matches, was hospitalised for the last 15 days and breathed his last at a private hospital in Mohali yesterday. Kapil, who first started training under Azad in 1971, said his coach became his friend later in his career. <img alt="Desh Prem Azad, Yograj Singh and Kapil Dev" src="http://images.mid-day.com/2013/aug/Kapil-Dev.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 330px;" /> Desh Prem Azad (centre) with Kapil Dev (right) and Yograj Singh. Pic courtesy/Straight from the heart by Kapil Dev Kapil said Azad was thrilled when he made his international debut in Pakistan in 1978. &ldquo;Azad was happy when we first won the World Cup in 1983. But, I guess, he was happier when I made my debut. He was a good cricketer himself. I learnt the basics and finer points of the game from him.&rdquo; Kapil spoke on his coach&rsquo;s Dronacharya award. &ldquo;It won&rsquo;t be right to say that he won the award because he was my coach. He has produced international cricketers (Yograj Singh, Ashok Malhotra and Chetan Sharma) and he deserved the award,&rdquo; said Kapil, who learnt about his coach&rsquo;s demise at around 1pm yesterday. u00a0

India's 1983 World Cup-winning skipper remembers who passed away in Mohali yesterday

Kapil Dev pays tribute to late coach Desh Prem Azad

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Kapil Dev pays tribute to late coach Desh Prem Azad

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