Category: World
Service
Date: 08.03.2005
Printable version
The Captain of India's 1983 World Cup winning team, Kapil Dev, told
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi's phone-in programme Aapki Baat Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Ke Saath that India would
be under pressure to win the forthcoming home series against Pakistan.
"At the moment you have to see which team is better. See, we are
playing at home and the pressure to win is on us.
"For the Indian team it is a situation similar to what Pakistan
faced last year. Expectations are high, and if the team does not win
at home, it would face what Pakistan faced after Indians beat them last
year. It would be said that the team is good only on paper," Kapil
said in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi programme.
Questioned on the factors which could be crucial for the series, the
former Indian skipper and coach said: "I think the first five days
of the series - the first test is very important.
"Both teams are tense at the moment and to release pressure, both
sides are saying the other is better.
"On paper one may say the Indian side looks better but remember
in actual match play, one brilliant performance can change the match.
"Both teams want the first test to pass so that they can study
the other side, but to make the series interesting, attacking is the
best policy at the moment."
Asked what he thought was the strength of the Indian team, Kapil replied:
"We have many big names, but it is crucial that the names should
match their performance, this is our biggest strength and weakness too.
"Sometimes when many big names are there, one thinks the other
might steady the innings, but it does not happen always."
On which players he thought would be the key to the series, Kapil
said: "I think if we look at bowling, a lot depends on Anil Kumble.
If he gets going, then he could change the match within two hours. Remember
he has done that earlier.
"Similarly from Pakistan point of view, their skipper Inzamam
holds the key. He has a good record against India and in the conditions
here, he could perform well."
Questioned on whether he was worried about Sachin's fitness and form,
Kapil said: "I am not worried about this. He has played great cricket
during last 15 years, I would say some unbelievable knocks. But remember
he is not going to be 20 again. One day his cricketing career has to
come to an end. The thing is expectation level from him is very high.
"He is a different person now. You cannot expect him to continue
playing forever like he used to when was 25. He is not going to be 25
again.
"Off and on the world would see brilliant performances from him,
but he is not going to be a lad again.
"Sachin is immensely talented. It is totally up to him, how much
interest he has in the game, and that is what I am also interested in!
He still has a lot of ability left in him, but he is not 100 per cent
fit, so I cannot say anything."
On Sourav Ganguly's captaincy, Kapil Dev commented: "I think
he is very determined. When he took over the captaincy, there was a
problem, the team was in shambles, Sachin did not want captaincy. So
for the first four years of his captaincy stint, Sourav did very well.
"In the past two years, he has been in pressure since his own
performance has not been that good. But for a captain it is the team's
performance that has to come first, rather than his own performance.
"I think a captain should forget about his own performance and
should concentrate on how the team is doing, and should adapt to what
condition the team wants, but all in all Sourav has done good work."
Asked about the selectors' decision to drop Mohammad Kaif from the
team, Kapil said: "There is always something to talk about a player
who is dropped. I say all these boys are young, they have the courage,
and you cannot stop anybody for long if one performs well. You could
delay anyone, but you cannot deny them the chance, it has to come one
day.
"Instead of criticising the selectors for every move they make,
let us give them the credit that they want a team which can win. There
could be a difference of opinion, but a team cannot be selected like
you select the Indian Idol on TV by voting through SMS messages."
Questioned on why India could not produce a quality all-rounder after
him, Kapil said: "It is quite surprising why the boys do not want
to fill the all-rounder slot, since so much one day cricket is being
played, newer versions of the game are coming, I am myself surprised
at this. In fact, look at the world level, expect three, four names
- there are no genuine all-rounders in the game."
Asked why players like Irfan Pathan are not being recognised as all-rounders,
Kapil replied: "Whether anyone recognises you or not is a side
issue. If you go out and score 40 to 50 runs frequently, nobody could
stop you from being called an all-rounder. There is nothing extraordinary
in being an all-rounder.
"I was sent to bat at number 11 in my debut first class match.
Remember all players in the playing 11 get a chance to bat, one can
understand the difficulty in winning the captain's confidence to bowl,
but batting totally depends on individual will to excel.
"We won the '83 World Cup due to all-rounders. There were six,
seven players who could bat or bowl at any position, and if one was
to fail in both, there was fielding to fill the void."
On what the players feel are when they play against Pakistan, Kapil
said: "Same feelings as I and you have about India-Pakistan matches.
"If we were playing England, you would not have done this programme
and spoken to many players.
"So much individual involvement is there in an Indo-Pak match
that players want to win the math at all costs. It is I and you who
make the players tense."
Notes to Editors
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Hindi's weekly phone-in programme Aapki Baat Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Ke Saath is broadcast
every Sunday, 8.00 to 8.30pm Indian Standard Time.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service broadcasts programmes around the world in 43 languages
and is available on radio and online.
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