In the aftermath of India’s recent defeat to Australia in the World Cup final, cricketing icon and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has offered some sage advice to Indian cricket enthusiasts. While attending the inaugural ceremony of the Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational golf tournament in Gurugram, the legendary all-rounder emphasized the necessity of maintaining a balanced perspective towards the sport.
Dev pointed out that excessive hope can lead to disappointment, as witnessed in the wake of India’s six-wicket loss at the hands of Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium on November 19. He advised fans to refrain from piling too much pressure on the team and to appreciate cricket as just another sport. “Don’t keep so much hope that people end up with broken hearts. We need to keep a balance. We shouldn’t create so much hype. We need to look at sports as sports only. Whoever plays well on the day, we need to respect that. We are too emotional,” said Kapil.
The cricket legend also reflected on India’s performance over the last decade, noting the team’s seven knock-out stage losses in eight ICC tournaments from 2014 to 2023. While he didn’t specify the reasons behind these defeats, Kapil suggested that only the players could truly express how they tackle the high-pressure situations of major contests.
Addressing the victories that often go unnoticed, Kapil encouraged the celebration of India’s consecutive triumphs, prior to the final upset, rather than dwelling on the loss. “They won 10 matches in a row. Is it not enough? We shouldn’t compare anyone. What is important is to see whether they played good cricket or not. We played very good cricket. The final day wasn’t ours, so be it,” he remarked.
Kapil further voiced his opinion on the broader cricket landscape, pointing to the performances of other teams, such as South Africa and the previous World Cup champions, England, who did not live up to expectations. In doing so, he stressed the unpredictable nature of the sport.
In a show of sportsmanship and statesmanship, Dev lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for consoling the Indian team post their final loss, saying, “If the Prime Minister doesn’t encourage, who will? He is the No.1 man in the country, and if he supports, it feels good.”
On a different note, Kapil abstained from commenting on the future of Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in T20 Internationals, declaring that such matters were for the selectors to decide, not past players like himself.
In addition to providing his insights on cricket, Kapil Dev talked about the second edition of the Kapil Dev Grant Thornton Invitational golf tournament, which has now become a significant attraction in the golfing circuit, boasting a prize purse of Rs 2 crore, double from the previous year. Golf enthusiasts and fans are eagerly awaiting the performance of defending champion Varun Parikh as the competition kicks off at the DLF Golf and Country Club.
Kapil also hinted at the presence of cricket stars like Murali Karthik, Madan Lal, Yuvraj Singh, and Harbhajan Singh on the final day of the golf event, and he expressed his desire for Sachin Tendulkar to attend the tournament. He concluded with an inclusive message about sports in India: “The prize money has been doubled. It feels good that some former cricketers will be coming for the event. Why can’t cricketers play other sports? If we can support other sports apart from cricket, why not? In India, there is not just one game.”
Please note that while the words of Kapil Dev were reported as said at the event, the full text has not been altered from its original form as provided by the news source, except for the headline as per editorial guidelines. For the latest updates on cricket and other sports, fans can access a plethora of platforms including social media and sports apps.