NAPIER: Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev has assailed the frequent changing of captains in the cricket team and said he was disappointed and frustrated of being in and out of India’s captaincy.
“I don’t like one bit the idea of changing and chopping captains,” Kapil said here on Feb. 9th.
“I would not agree if I am reappointed captain for a short while, I will rather continue to do duty for the country instead of regaining captaincy only to be ousted.”
The all-rounder said a captain had a role to play. “I must stay as the captain for a sufficient period of time to know my boys and get the best out of them.”
When asked what he thought of the new entrant to the Indian team, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil said he was extremely promising.
Kapil, however, said Tendulkar was not comparable to Gavaskar as he (Gavaskar) “belonged to a different mould and had tremendous will power and determination.”
The former skipper also declined to compare Gavaskar with Sir Donald Bradman. He said it was improper for him to compare because firstly, he never saw Sir Donald in action and secondly the two belonged to different eras.
Kapil Dev said he wanted to continue for another three years or about. “But, more than achieving of life’s ambition of 400 wickets and 5,000 runs, I would like to see some youngster firmly established before I quit,” he said.
Kapil Dev, who has so far collected 362 wickets and 4275 runs, felt test cricket will survive despite the immense popularity of one-day games.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 16, 1990
