He inspired generations of cricketers, including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, to pick up the willow. As India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain and the nation’s greatest all-rounder, Kapil Dev redefined Indian cricket with his fearless approach and unmatched skills. In conversation with Rajiv Srivastava & Shalabh Saxena on the sidelines of TOISA recently, he spoke about the nuances of the game, shared his thoughts on current Indian team, and took a nostalgic trip down memory lane to his cricketing days.
What is your opinion about the present bunch of cricketers in the country?
Honestly, I have no idea. I will form my opinion after reading what you people write. The only ones who can truly give an opinion are those who are with them. Since I am not, it would be wrong for me to comment.
You made a name internationally, bowling on flat Indian pitches. However, things have changed since then, yet India has not been able to consistently produce fast bowlers like Pakistan. Even today, the Indian team relies heavily on Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Shami. What is your opinion on this?
Have we produced more fast bowlers or not? Pakistan has never produced batsmen the way India has. What do you have to say about that? Yes, Pakistan has produced more fast bowlers, but in the last 15 years, I think India has done fairly well in the fast-bowling department. I’m not just talking about Bumrah. You can talk about (Mohammed) Shami, Siraj, and many other good fast bowlers. We produce more batsmen because that has been our cricketing culture.
Why are players becoming more injury-prone despite advancements in technology and better medical facilities?
They play a lot of cricket nowadays—almost 10 months a year. If I speak on behalf of the players, yes, they are playing too much cricket. Perhaps they are only playing high-level cricket and not the kind of cricket every cricketer should experience, like domestic and club cricket. Take Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, for example. Virat played domestic cricket after 12 years. I believe one should play all levels of cricket to stay fit. That’s my perception.
Will the One-Day format survive in the era of fast-paced cricket like T20?
If Test cricket can survive, One-Day cricket will survive too.
To remain injury-free, do you think there should be different teams for different formats?
Injuries are very individual. I must say that the cricket board has provided excellent facilities to help players recover quickly.
With several Indian players waiting for their chance, young cricketers are under immense pressure. Do you think this pressure affects their performance?
Pressure is an individual thing. In our times, only a few players got the opportunity to play Test cricket. Now, many players get chances across formats—Tests, ODIs, and T20s. There is no shortage of cricket these days. Pressure only exists if someone does not get to play at all.
Who, in your opinion, is the greatest batsman and the greatest bowler of all time?
I think it’s very subjective. From my perspective, if I wasn’t batting well, every bowler seemed great; and when I was playing well, every bowler looked ordinary. But yes, if you look at performances, Vivian Richards was certainly one of the greats. Then there are players like Sunil Gavaskar, whom we perhaps didn’t value as much while playing alongside him— “ghar ki murgi daal barabar,” as they say. But hats off to him. It wasn’t easy in his time because he didn’t have quality bowlers in the nets to practice against, yet he performed exceptionally well at the international level. I think when you stop playing, you begin to truly appreciate such players.
Can you recall your fantastic catch to dismiss Vivian Richards in the 1983 World Cup final? Do you think that was the turning point of the match?
I don’t think so. If there was a turning point, it was Clive Lloyd’s catch—that was much more important. If we talk about the time when Dhoni was playing, India would had a chance to win even if Rohit and Virat got out. In our times, if Clive Lloyd was still batting, winning wasn’t easy. That was the kind of impact he had. Catches and run-outs are important, but to win, a team must perform throughout the match. Yes, Surya Kumar Yadav’s catch was crucial, but it wasn’t the only reason India won the T20 World Cup against South Africa.
When did you realise that India could win the 1983 World Cup?
After we won it! (laughs). A captain always believes that his team can win.
You still inspire young cricketers.
No, youngsters are watching today’s cricket. In 10 years, even Virat and Rohit won’t be the same as they are now.
There is still mystery around why you were dropped in your 100th Test. What was the reason?
I played a stupid shot, so they dropped me. Why blame others? I gave them the opportunity, and they took it. Back then, selectors judged players based on performance. Today, cricket is viewed differently. If someone plays a big shot on the first ball, it’s considered great. In the past, it was seen as a stupid shot. Reverse sweeps were not acceptable back then, but today, a switch hit is considered a sign of great hand-eye coordination.
Is T20 and fast cricket taking away technique from budding cricketers?
But then, you get more results. Technique is about scoring runs. Garry Sobers once said, “Playing in the V is in the MCC manual, but in my book, it’s about how you get runs.” If a player can hit an offside ball to the leg side, that’s his ability. Today’s cricketers have more skills than ever before.
We lost back-to-back series—one at home against New Zealand and one overseas against Australia. Why are we struggling against both spinners and pacers?
Play domestic cricket. In the last 10 years, how many top players have played domestic cricket? I’m not blaming them, but those organising cricket should ensure that players participate in domestic matches. When senior players play domestic cricket, young cricketers gain confidence. The cricket board is doing well in terms of finances, but someone must ensure domestic cricket is taken seriously. Losing and winning are part of the game, but the quality of cricket matters more.
Much has been said about India taking five spinners to the Champions Trophy. What is your opinion?
I don’t know. The selectors, captain, and coach must have valid reasons for their choices. It’s difficult to judge from the outside. You can’t please everyone. If mistakes persist, the cricket board will step in.
A word for the Indian team currently playing in the Champions Trophy?
Just go and express yourself. Don’t overthink. Don’t be complacent—this is not the time. To win a championship, you must have a ruthless approach.
You once said that if you had played golf during your cricketing career, you would have been a better batsman. Why?
Yes, because golf improves concentration. In cricket, you can sometimes get away with a bad shot, but in golf, one bad shot can keep you out for four days.
Who do you think will win the champions trophy?
Very difficult to say. Cricket is played at a different level these days. A score of 300, which was once considered good, is no longer safe. During our time, 270 was a big total. Now, even a target of 351 can be chased down. That’s the impact of T20 cricket on ODIs. Emotionally, I support India because they have a strong team, but you can’t predict a winner.