India’s World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev on Friday (November 26) questioned Hardik Pandya’s tag of a multi-skilled cricketer, saying the latter needs to do both batting and bowling to be termed as an all-rounder.
Notably, Hardik has barely bowled in competitive cricket lately. During the recently held T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE, where India failed to qualify to the semi-final, he bowled in just two matches and failed to take a wicket.
Pandya’s fitness has been a cause of concern for the Indian team ever since he underwent a back surgery in 2019. After the underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign, India dropped him from the home T20I series against New Zealand, which they won 3-0.
“He has to do both the jobs to be considered an all-rounder. He is not bowling so can we call him an all-rounder? Let him bowl, he has come out from the injury,” Kapil said at the Royal Calcutta Golf Course, as quoted by PTI.
“He is an extremely important batter to the country, for bowling he has to play a lot more matches, perform and bowl and then we will say,” he added.
When asked about his favourite all-rounders, Kapil took the names of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
“I just go to watch cricket these days and enjoy the game. I don’t see from your perspective. My job is to enjoy the sport. I would say Ashwin, hats off to him,” he said.
“Jadeja… What a fabulous cricketer he is, but unfortunately he improved as a batter and come down as a bowler to me.
“When he started, he was a far better bowler but now he’s a far better batter. Every time India needs him, he will get runs. But he’s not performing as a bowler.”
Kapil Dev also expects Rahul Dravid to do wonders as head of the Indian cricket team. Dravid began his stint with a 3-0 T20I series win over New Zealand.
“He’s a good man, a good cricketer. He will do a better job as a coach than as a cricketer because in cricket nobody has done better than him. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed,” Kapil said.
Dravid, who had previously served India’s Under-19 and A teams as coach, has been given the contract till 2023 ODI World Cup.
“You can’t just judge one after his debut, you don’t go by one performance. Over a period of time, what Rahul will do, we will come to know. You only think positive,” he further said.
(With PTI inputs)
