Some victories fade with time. Others grow larger than the moment itself. More than four decades on, India’s triumph at the 1983 World Cup belongs firmly in the latter category.For an entire generation, it was the day Indian cricket discovered what was possible. For those that followed, it became the moment that changed everything. At the centre of that transformation stood Kapil Dev, the man who altered the trajectory of Indian cricket forever.That version of him has become part of India’s sporting consciousness, preserved in memory and immortalised in countless highlight reels. The man, however, has long since moved on.Retirement opened the door to a different passion. Golf, a sport he discovered after cricket, gradually became a defining part of his life. What began as a post-retirement curiosity evolved into a passion, and eventually a mission. Today, as president of the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India, Kapil finds himself championing a sport he only discovered after hanging up his cricket boots, investing in its future with the same enthusiasm that once powered India’s charge on cricket fields around the world.The setting for this conversation could scarcely be further removed from the frenzy that once surrounded him.Tucked away well outside the hustle and bustle of New Delhi city is Kapil’s farmhouse, where there are barely any indications that it’s the residence of one of India’s most celebrated athletes. There are no ostentatious reminders of sporting greatness, no shrine to a glittering career. Instead, the property breathes a different kind of richness.Vegetable patches stretch across the grounds. Open spaces invite silence rather than spectacle. More than 40 rescue dogs, cared for by his wife Romi, roam the expansive compound. It is here, amid the stillness, that The Hindu sat down with the 67-year-old to discuss what he calls, somewhat surprisingly, the finest phase of his life. Excerpts:Talk to us about your interest in golf. How did that happen?This has been a beautiful journey. Basically, when I stopped playing cricket, I wondered what to do next. Either you go to television and start talking about cricket or do coaching, most probably. But I wanted to stay away from people, because you’re with them for almost 15-20 years. You now want to just chill and relax.A friend of mine introduced me to golf and I loved it. Why? Only one reason. I’m not depending on somebody. I played sports where I depended on others (before) but this gave me a thrill.I’m not saying cricket didn’t give me that, it gave me more than anything I could ever imagine in several lives. But this gave me a special kick.