Kapil Dev lamented that though India has produced individual stars like Sunil Gavaskar, it never produced a team which could perform as unit.
KOCHI: Former captain Kapil Dev lamented that though India has produced individual stars like Sunil Gavaskar, it never produced a team which could perform as unit.
“India has produced great cricketers during the past 75 years but we always lack one thing.... as a team we have not performed well,” Kapil said.
“I know that we have produced greatest players like Sunil Gavaskar, but he was an individual player. We have produced great players, but we have not produced a great team who could played as a unit. This is what disturbs me,” he said on the sidelines of a function here.
Kapil, himself was a match-winner with the ball and the bat for India for many years and lead India to its only World Cup victory in 2003. He also famously led India to a 2-0 win over England in an away series in 1986, only the second after Wadekar’s 1971 win.
India’s lone World cup winning captain said he hoped to work for the betterment of cricket even while anticipating “problems and hurdles” in his new assignment with Indian Cricket League (ICL).
“We will have problems in our way. We will have hurdles, but we know how to swim. We will sail. Do not worry,” he said. On his aligning with ICL, he said was working for the betterment of the game in the country.
“It is a new beginning and (a) totally different (one). I am grateful to my colleagues who have joined the league. We can do something for the betterment of cricket. We are not trying to distract cricket and not trying to fight with anybody,” he said.
He emphasised on the need to train budding cricketers. “They should start learning from schools and colleges, and that is where we will work very hard.”
Replying to a query whether infrastructure like grounds would be a problem for ICL, Kapil could not provide a satisfactory answer.
“We will play in villages. A determined mind is required. Place is not a problem. We can play anywhere in schools and colleges. As long as we are determined to do, I do not think anybody can stop that. If somebody wants to put some hurdles ...fine,” he said.
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