NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev, famous for leading India to its first World Cup victory in 1983, believes a cricketer’s prime years are between ages 26 and 34. Fitness then determines how long they can stay at the top.
This insight is particularly relevant for celebrated players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both have exceeded this age range. Kohli, turning 36 in November, and Rohit, who turned 37 in April, have retired from T20Is after their successful T20 World Cup campaign but remain active in other formats.
Kapil shared his views on MyKhel, saying, “In my opinion, the period between 26 and 34 years is your prime and thereafter the fitness of the players will ensure their longevity.” Kapil himself retired at 35 after an illustrious career, playing 131 Tests and 225 ODIs. He bagged 434 and 253 wickets in each format, respectively. He also had notable batting stats with 5248 runs in Tests and 3783 in ODIs.
However, Kapil emphasized that retirement is a personal choice. He feels that as long as players maintain their fitness and enjoy the game, they should continue.
He noted, “Ravi Shastri retired at a very early age while Sachin Tendulkar had a longer stint. So it is completely up to the individual to decide their ways of life. My way of thinking is to stay fit and keep playing as long as you are enjoying the game.”
Kapil’s perspective sheds light on the career trajectories of modern players. He offers a guideline, yet acknowledges personal decisions.
As Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli navigate their post-prime years, Kapil Dev’s philosophy provides them, and fans, a framework for understanding their future career decisions.