Since the retirement of legendary Kapil Dev in 1994, Team India have always wished for a quality all-rounder who can deliver the quota of 10 overs as a pace spearhead or as a third seamer and can hit some meaty blows with the bat. In the last 23 years, India had unearthed quite a few seam bowling all-rounders, who showed a lot of promise but unfortunately faded away with the passage of time.  

However, the 23-year-old Hardik Pandya seems to be in a different league as he is proving his worth with some spectacular showings of late. In the most recent five-match ODI series against Australia, the Gujarat born all-rounder was adjudged Man of the Series for his stellar performances throughout the series. In the ODI series, Pandya amassed 222 runs besides scalping 6 wickets.

Even though Pandya has taken the Indian cricket fraternity by storm and many cricket pundits have even termed him as the next Kapil Dev but former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels that such statements are uncalled for since the youngster has a long way to go to be compared with an all-time great like Kapil.

"Hardik Pandya has the qualities to help this Indian team but don’t compare him with Kapil Dev at the moment. Kapil Dev was an absolute champion. We will talk about it 10-15 years down the line once Pandya keeps playing that long," Ganguly told India Today.

"Let’s enjoy his cricket, he is a good cricketer, he is a positive cricketer. He’s a fighter and he has got heart when he plays cricket. That’s what you look in a young cricketer. I wish him all the best hopefully he continues to do good work for Virat Kohli," he added.

Must Read: Hardik Pandya speaks on comparison with Kapil Dev

Taking into account the success of Indian captain Virat Kohli, Ganguly also asserted that the Delhi lad has it in him to become one of India’s greatest ever captains. However, the ‘Prince of Kolkata’ has made it clear that Kohli’s credentials as a leader will be tested once India start their overseas tours.

"Virat Kohli has got qualities of being one of India's great captains, there's no doubt about it. I think next 15 months will be important for him when India go to South Africa, England, Australia and the World Cup. I think he is in the right direction. He is preparing his team, he's picking players and giving opportunities. They will beat New Zealand and Sri Lanka, there's no doubt about it. India will be challenged when they go to South Africa but I feel this side has got the ability to do well there as well," Dada opined.

Team India under Kohli are doing wonders in all formats of the game. Such is the domination of Men in Blue that they have recently won their eighth consecutive Test series and four consecutive ODI series besides featuring in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final in England. No wonder, Virat Kohli’s troops are currently placed at the pinnacle of ICC Test and ODI rankings.

"India completely dominated Sri Lanka and Australia. They have looked a far-far superior side in the batting and bowling departments. That has been the case for Indian cricket in the last one and a half years. Except that blip in the Champions Trophy final, they have been a remarkable side. New Zealand and Sri Lanka will come next and I think India will be relentless again. They are far superior side than those two teams," Ganguly concluded.