India’s World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, recently, stressed the importance of having all-rounders in the team for winning the big tournaments and also the bilateral tournaments. He talked about the importance of having players like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the side. The legendary skipper feels that a player like Pandya gives the captain an extra bowling option which is needed, especially in the shortest format of the game.
“What more do you want in the side other than having all-rounders who could win matches for a side not only in the World Cup but in all other matches or events? A cricketer like Hardik Pandya has been quite useful for India,” Kapil Dev said on Tuesday at the sidelines of a promotional event here in Lucknow.
“All-rounders are the key players of any side, and they become the strength of a team. An all-rounder like Hardik gives Rohit Sharma the liberty to make use of the sixth bowler in a match. He is a good batter, bowler, and fielder too. Ravindra Jadeja is also a perfect all-rounder for India.
Kapil Dev didn’t look very confidence when asked about India’s chances of reaching the top four. The veteran cricketer feels that there’s only 30 percent chance of India reaching the top-four.
“In T20 cricket, the team winning a match can lose the next… It’s a very difficult to talk about the chances of India winning the World Cup. The issue is can they make it to the top four? And I am concerned about their making it to the top four, only then anything can be said. For me, it’s just 30 % chance of India making it to the top (last) four.”
The 63-year-old also acknowledged the presence of Suryakumar Yadav in the team. He lauded the Indian batter and feels that his addition has made an India an ever more dangerous outfit.
“Having a batter like Suryakumar in the team in the company of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, a team automatically becomes strong,” he said.
India will play their first match of the 20-20 World Cup against Pakistan on Sunday, 23 October 2022.
