World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Friday expressed concern over the rising number of injuries among Indian cricketers, attributing it to the demanding schedule that keeps players in action for almost 10 months each year. The National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru has turned into a rehabilitation hub, with players spending more time recovering than training. The latest casualty being India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who was forced to sit out of the second innings of the final Test in Sydney due to a back injury. Initially named in the Champions Trophy squad, Bumrah has now been ruled out.

Mohammed Shami, India’s top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup (24 wickets), suffered a leg injury post-final and underwent surgery.

His 14-month recovery ruled him out of the BGT series, which India lost for the first time in a decade. Shami’s absence left Bumrah without a reliable bowling partner.

“The only thing that worries me is that they play for 10 months a year — injuries will be much more common,” the 1983 World Cup-winning skipper said at the Tata Steel Golf prize distribution ceremony here.

Asked whether Bumrah would be missed in CT, Kapil urged players to focus on supporting each other rather than dwelling on injured players.

“Why talk about someone who is not in the team? It’s a team game, and the team has to win, not individuals. This is not badminton, tennis, or golf; we are playing a team sport in the Champions Trophy. If we play as a team, we will definitely win,” said the 66-year-old.

“You never want your main players to get injured, but if it happens, you can’t do anything about it. Good luck to my Indian team — go and play well,” he added.

India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.

Kapil said he’s excited to see so much rising talents in the Indian cricket team these days.

“When you see the youngsters, their confidence is unbelievable. We didn’t have this much confidence when we were young. Good lluck to them.” A known golf enthusiast and the current PGTI president, Kapil also made a playful pitch for the sport.

“Tell everyone to play golf. If they are not playing cricket, they should come and play golf. If they do, their performance will be better. There is a lot of fun in golf.” Emphasising on the importance of infrastructure for young golfers, he said: “If young players get the right facilities, they will improve. We are trying our best.”

‘LIV Golf will do what IPL did for cricket’

The PGTI head further likened Saudi-backed LIV Golf’s rise to the IPL’s impact on cricket, stressing that more tournaments would only benefit players.

“When the IPL came, everyone benefited. So, whenever there is change, everyone will benefit. The more tournaments, the better. The more events that happen, the better it is for the players,” Kapil said.

Launched in 2021, LIV Golf is a rival to the PGA and DP World Tours, offering lucrative contracts, shorter 54-hole events, team-based formats, and no cuts. It has attracted top golfers but also sparked significant controversy.

Kapil further called for more golf courses to boost India’s Olympic prospects.

“You have to build more golf courses — only then can we play and do well in the Olympics. If you go to Scotland, there are about 100 courses. Here, in Kolkata, you have only two or three.

“There should be more driving ranges; more players will emerge. If you have more schools and colleges, only then will children study, right? Players need opportunities to express themselves.” Dismissing the notion that golf is exclusive to the elite, he gave example of cricket’s transformation.

“Ninety per cent of the top players come from caddie backgrounds. If top players are caddies-turned-pros, then we should remove this notion that golf is an elite game.

“About 60 years ago, only royals played cricket — look at it now! The same will happen with golf; common people will play. This game is for everyone,” he signed off. 

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev said the injury-enforced absence of impact players like Jasprit Bumrah can hamper any team, and the former skipper hoped that India’s pace talisman will return to action sooner rather than later. Bumrah, who was named the ICC Test and Cricketer of the Year for 2024, was on Tuesday ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to a lower back injury. The 31-year-old, who has already undergone a lower back surgery in 2022, sustained another stress-related injury while bowling in the final Test against Australia at Sydney, where he pulled out after sending down 10 overs in the first innings.

“The quality of cricket Jasprit Bumrah has played in the last two years has been really impactful and I don’t think any other fast bowler in the world has been able to produce that kind of a performance,” said Kapil in an interview on Cricket Adda Youtube channel shared with PTI Videos.

“Big players like Bumrah, R Ashwin, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan who gave out match winning performances and then to see them getting injured is indeed a problem for any side. I just hope Bumrah returns soon, because a big player is a big player,” he added.

Bumrah was India’s standout bowler last year, playing a pivotal role in India’s home wins over England and Bangladesh.

He was also the Player of the Series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, bagging 32 wickets across five Tests. He dominated all opposition teams in the last 12 months, grabbing 71 wickets from a mere 13 matches at a brilliant average of 14.92.

Bumrah was also the fourth Indian bowler to take 70 or more wickets in a calendar year after Kapil, Anil Kumble and R Ashwin.

The Indian senior men’s team selection committee has named Harshit Rana as Bumrah’s replacement for the Champions Trophy starting on February 19 in Pakistan. India will open their campaign against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20.

The 1983 World Cup-winning skipper vindicated the selection of mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy in India’s Champions Trophy squad.

“He has the ability and has been performing well…whenever a mystery bowler comes into any side then his impact could be seen on the team. The most important thing for him is that how much time will the opponents take to read and play him.

“But so far the way he has performed in the last one or two years, it has been great,” said the 66-year-old Kapil, who took 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs from 131 Tests between 1978 and 1994.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, two of the biggest players in Indian cricket right now, are at the proverbial crossroads of their career. Their class is unquestionable but their current form is not. Both the senior stars have had a tumultuous run after the T20 world Cup 2024. They have already retired from the shortest format and now question marks are being raised on whether they should continue in the other formats too. Rohit is few months short of 38, while Kohli celebrated his 36th birthday a few months ago. 

After failures in Australia and against New Zealand in Tests, all eyes are on whether they will be able to leave a mark in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 or not. 

India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev said that it’s not a bad thing to talk to outsiders to mend the problems. 

“When there are no runs, problems are on all sides. The best way out is to talk to cricketers, who are your ‘type’. See you old videos and analyse how you used to play. You will not get the same 20-25 year old Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, but if you see your old videos, you will get an idea. Cricket is a game of confidence. Age is a factor but that doesn’t mean they have forgotten to play the game. You have to adjust,” Kapil Dev said on YouTube channel Cricket Adda by former India star Madan Lal and Anil Singh. 

“You can talk to cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid,  them. Being big stars does not mean that somebody who has played less cricket than you can’t tell you how to play. The coach may not be of your level but still you listen to him. Sometime, you can talk to outsiders.”

In the same interview, Kapil said fans’ anger is justified if top stars don’t do well. 

“He (Rohit) is a big player. I hope he returns to form quickly. I will say good luck to the coach. It takes time to settle in. The whole country is looking forward to the side’s performance. In the recent times, the side played well for some time. The team looks unsettled. When the captain’s form is poor, the team has problems,” Kapil Dev said. 

“The team has not done well, it’s justified that the fans are angry. When these players came back after winning the T20 World Cup, the crazy scenes, I have never seen in my life. So, when they do bad, criticism follows. That’s what I say, don’t praise the players so much, that they can’t handle. And then criticise them below the belt. This is my thought.”

Gautam Gambhir has come under heavy scrutiny after a series of poor results.© PTI

Ravichandran Ashwin‘s international retirement midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 took fellow cricketers, former cricketers, experts and fans by surprise, and 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev was seemingly one of them. Ashwin’s retirement led to a lot of speculation on why he had hastily called time, although the spinner himself reiterated that it was his own choice. However, reflecting on Ashwin’s retirement, Kapil Dev has opined that while Ashwin is a strong-headed individual, he could’ve taken a different decision.

Asked on the issue of Ashwin’s retirement by Gulf News, Kapil Dev said:

“Ashwin is a very strong-headed guy. I like to see this kind of character in cricketers. I felt a little sad when he left in the middle of the tour. He is a great cricketer whom India produced and served the game so well, but he could have waited and done it differently. Nevertheless, what he did for the country is unbelievable. Sad he’s gone.”

One of India and world cricket’s greatest-ever spinners, Ashwin retired with 537 wickets in 106 Test matches. Statistically, he retired as India’s second-most successful bowler in Test cricket and international cricket overall.

Kapil Dev’s sadness at Ashwin’s retirement does not come as a surprise. Kapil had taken time out to personally call Ashwin following his retirement, as shared by the latter on his social media.

Kapil and Sachin Tendulkar were among the cricket icons who reached out to Ashwin after his retirement, and the spinner showed them his gratitude.

“If someone told me 25 years ago that I would have a smartphone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks Sachin and Kapil paaji,” Ashwin had tweeted.

Kapil, on his part, is India’s third-most successful Test wicket-taker (434) and the most successful among fast bowlers.

Former India cricketer Yograj Singh left everyone utterly shocked after he shared an unheard tale of an incident with Kapil Dev. In a recent podcast with YouTuber Samdish Bhatia, Yograj revealed that he had threatened India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain with a gun after Kapil dropped him from the domestic team “for no reason”. Yograj, who is the father of the legendary India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, is widely known for his blunt takes and unfiltered opinions on various topics.

Talking about the incident, Yograj revealed that he went to the former India captain’s house with his pistol but changed his mind, showing mercy on latter’s mother. Yograj also said that he abused Kapil.

As Yograj’s interview with Samdish made headlines, Kapil was recently asked about the incident and the former India skipper won everyone’s heart with his stunning response. 

Responding to a journalist’s question on the same topic, Kapil refused to recognize Yograj and said, “Kon? Kiski baat kar rahe ho? (Who? Whom are you talking about?).”

Kapil Dev said “Yograj singh kon hai”?pic.twitter.com/h6qkSho9UW

— Dhonism (@Dhonismforlife) January 13, 2025

The journalist quickly responded by stating that Yograj is Yuvraj Singh’s father. To this, Kapil said, “Accha, vo. Aur kuch? (Ohh, him. Anything else?).”

Yograj had stated that his wife wanted to ask some questions to Kapil after he snubbed her husband from the domestic team. 

“My wife (Yuvi’s mother) wanted me to ask Kapil questions. I told her that I would teach this bloody man a lesson. I took my pistol out, I went to Kapil’s house in Sector 9. He came out with his mother. I abused him a dozen times. I told him because of you I have lost a friend and what you have done, you will pay for it,” Yograj said on YouTube channel ‘Unfiltered by Samdish‘

“I told him, ‘I want to put a bullet through your head, but I am not doing it because you have a very pious mother, who is standing here.’ I told Shabnam, ‘Let’s go.’

Yuvraj Singh’s father Yograj Singh has made a chilling revelation from his playing days. Yograj, who played one Test and 6 ODIs for India during 1980-81, said that he once wanted to kill Kapil Dev for the then captain dropping him from the team. Giving details of the incident in a recent interview, Yograj revealed that he went to the former India catpain’s house with his pistol but changed his mind, showing mercy on latter’s mother. Yograj also said that he abused Kapil.

“When Kapil Dev became captain of India, North Zone, and Haryana, he dropped me for no reason,” Yograj said on YouTube channel ‘Unfiltered by Samdish‘, as quoted by India Today.

“My wife (Yuvi’s mother) wanted me to ask Kapil questions. I told her that I would teach this bloody man a lesson. I took my pistol out, I went to Kapil’s house in Sector 9. He came out with his mother. I abused him a dozen times. I told him because of you I have lost a friend and what you have done, you will pay for it.

“I told him, ‘I want to put a bullet through your head, but I am not doing it because you have a very pious mother, who is standing here.’ I told Shabnam, ‘Let’s go.’

“That was the moment I decided I would not play cricket, Yuvi will play.”

Yograj also claimed that late India player Bishan Singh Bedi, who was the chief selector back then, didn’t want him in the team.

“These guys, including Bishan Singh Bedi, they plotted against me. I never forgave Bishan Singh Bedi. The man died on his bed,” he said.

“When I was dropped I spoke Ravindra Chadha, one of the selectors. He told me that Bishan Singh Bedi (the chief selector) didn’t wanted to pick me because they thought I was Sunil Gavaskar’s man and because I was playing cricket in Mumbai. I was very close to Gavaskar.”

Harbhajan Singh criticised the ‘superstar culture’ prevalent in the Indian cricket team and said that the side needs performers not superstars after the Test series defeat against Australia. Except for Jasprit Bumrah, star players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had a horrible outing and the former spinner pointed out that selection for the away series against England should completely be dependent on performances. In order to make his point, Harbhajan went on to say that if players are getting picked just on the basis on their reputation, even Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev can find a place in the squad.

“There is a superstar culture which has developed. We don’t need superstars, we need performers. If the team has them (performers), it will move forward. Whoever wants to become a superstar should stay at home and play cricket there,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.

“There is a tour of England coming up. Now everyone has started talking about what will happen in England, who will go, who will not go. For me, it is a simple matter. Only players who are performing should go. You can’t keep picking players on their reputation.”

“If you do that, then you should take Kapil Dev sir and Anil bhai also. Here, the BCCI and the selectors will have to be firm and act tough. I don’t think that the superstar attitude is taking the team forward.”

Meanwhile, Yashasvi Jaiswal vowed that the team will make a strong comeback after their 1-3 Border-Gavaskar Trophy defeat against Australia in Sydney on Sunday. India lost the final Test of the series by six wickets which ended their hopes of qualifying for the third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final.

It was also India’s first Test series defeat to Australia in a decade. They last lost the Test series in Australia in 2015. India successfully retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the last four series including two in Australia.

However, this time the result was not in India’s favour as their batters struggled to score runs on Australian soil. Jasprit Bumrah was the only saving grace with memorable performances on the tour. He finished as the leading wicket-taker with 32 scalps and was named Player of the Series.

On the other hand, Jaiswal was the top performer with the bat for India accumulating 391 runs including a century and two fifties at an average of 43.44. Despite his outstanding effort, Jaiswal was not happy to finish on the losing side and was stressed to continue working hard. “Learnt a lot in Australia… Unfortunately, the result wasn’t what we had hoped for but we’ll be back stronger. Your support means everything,” Jaiswal wrote in a social media post.

(With IANS inputs)

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev has promised former India batter Vinod Kambli, who walked out of a Thane hospital here, to visit him at the earliest. Kambli was admitted in ICU on December 21 due to health complications which included urinary infection and cramps but doctors later said the 52-year-old also had clots in his brain. On Wednesday, Kambli moved out of the hospital appearing physically frail but high in spirits, and posed for photographs with the hospital staff, besides playing a short game of cricket.

Shailesh Thakur, director of Akruti Hospital, said during Kambli’s hospitalisation, he had also made a video call to former India captain Kapil Dev whose batch of 1983 World Cup winners have also extended their offer to help the Mumbai cricketer.

“Hi Kapil paaji how are you,” replied an emotional Kambli to Kapil’s greeting through the call.

The World Cup-winning captain then spoke to his one-time teammate for a brief while.

“I will come and see you. You are looking good, you have coloured your beard. Don’t rush. If you need to stay (in the hospital) for a few more days, please don’t rush. Tell the doctors it is fine if there is a need to stay on for two more days,” Kapil said.

“Take care. When you will better and come out, I will come to meet you. Look after yourself, love you,” Kapil added.

Kapil also thanked Thakur. “Thank you Shailesh, (for) you are looking after him. He is looking good, look after him.

Thakur said the hospital will extend all possible help to Kambli.

“I have been a fan of Kambli sir all my life and it was tough to see him struggling because of his health issues. We brought him to our hospital and we will also take care of his medical expenses and hospitalisation in the future,” Thakur told PTI.

Ravichandran Ashwin called time on a sensational international career on Tuesday, and has been showered with tribute across social media since. Retiring with 765 international wickets and 537 Test scalps – India’s second-highest in both lists – Ashwin’s legacy in Indian cricket has long-been cemented. Now, in a heartwarming revelation, Ashwin has revealed what is arguably the greatest hallmark of the respect he has earned. The 38-year-old took to X on Friday morning to reveal that he had received messages from Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev following his retirement.

Tendulkar is one of cricket’s finest-ever batters, while Kapil Dev was India’s first World Cup-winning captain. Ashwin expressed how valuable the messages from the two cricket icons were to him.

“If someone told me 25 years ago that I would have a smartphone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks Sachin and Kapil paaji,” Ashwin tweeted.

If some one told me 25 years ago that I would have a smart phone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks @sachin_rt and @therealkapildev paaji#blessed pic.twitter.com/RkgMUWzhtt

— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) December 20, 2024

Tendulkar had also earlier put out a social media post congratulating Ashwin.

“Ashwin, I’ve always admired how you approached the game with your mind and heart in perfect sync. From perfecting the carrom ball to contributing crucial runs, you always found a way to win.

Watching you grow from a promising talent to one of India’s finest match-winners has been wonderful. Your journey shows that true greatness lies in never being afraid to experiment and evolve.

Your legacy will inspire one and all. Wishing you all the very best for your 2nd innings,” Tendulkar had tweeted.

Ashwin has garnered praise from all corners of the cricket world after announcing his retirement. Be it from his peers Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, or from his current coach Gautam Gambhir, or from his former coach Ravi Shastri, or from icons like Tendulkar, Ashwin has earned well-deserved tribute.

The all-rounder quits as one of the game’s finest-ever spinners, and arguably India’s greatest ever. Ashwin boasts a glittering trophy cabinet to boot, headlined by the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2016.