'Money, Arrogance, Ego': Kapil Dev Blasts India Stars Over Sunil Gavaskar's Remarks

30.07.2023 - 04:17 sports.ndtv.com

Indian cricket over the years has seen a sea change. From being minnows in the 70s, Indian cricket has come a long way. The financial might that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has translated it into hosting the costliest cricket tournament in the world - the Indian Premier League.

The players have got richer too. From high-paid central contracts to lucrative IPL deals to costly brand endorsements, for an Indian cricketer, the avenues of income are manifold.

However, despite such riches, India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev feels there is always room for improvement. "Differences come out, the good (thing) about these players...is that they are very confident.

Negative point is they think they know everything. I don't know how to put it better than that. But they are confident, but they think 'you don't have to ask anybody'.

cricket India Cricket Team Sachin Tendulkar Kapil Dev Sunil Gavaskar India

Virat Kohli is undoubtedly one of the greatest batters in the world across all three formats. Known for his blistering knocks, the 34-year-old batter is en-route to breaking Sachin Tendulkar's historic record of 100 international centuries. While he is breathing fire in the ODIs and Tests, Kohli has not featured in a single T20I match since India's debacle in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022. Kohli, along with skipper Rohit Sharma has been missing out on the T20Is with all-rounder Hardik Pandya, donning the captain's hat.

#15YearsOfKingKohli Trend Takes Over Internet As Fans Celebrate Virat Kohli's Milestone Moment

On this day in 2008, a young and flamboyant Virat Kohli donned the Indian national team's jersey for the first time, making his debut against Sri Lanka in an ODI match. Years on, Kohli has gone on to cement his place in the Indian cricketing spectrum as an absolute leader, who isn't too far away from breaking some of the biggest records held in the game, especially by his idol Sachin Tendulkar. As Kohli reaches a historic milestone, his fans celebrated the landmark moment on social media, as #15YearsOfKingKohli started to trend on X (formerly Twitter).

Watch: Fan Asks For Picture From Virat Kohli. This Is How Star India Batter Responds

Star India batter Virat Kohli is considered one of the most loved sportspersons in the world. Known for his blistering knocks, the former India skipper is slowly inching closer to breaking Sachin Tendulkar's historic record of hundred international centuries. Kohli, who has not featured in any T20I game, since T20 World Cup 2022, is currently having some time off to prepare for the upcoming Asia Cup. Apart from his batting heroics, Kohli is also admired by the fans for his generous nature, and a very good example of his generosity was seen recently.

How Many Domestic Matches Have Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli Played? Asks Unimpressed Kapil Dev

A firm believer in the powers of domestic cricket, India legend Kapil Dev isn't happy seeing senior Indian players not grinding in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and other local tournaments. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, etc. have all seen their forms being questioned over different intervals of time. Kapil is of the opinion that all top players must play a reasonable amount of domestic cricket, as such a step doesn't just their form but also boosts their team's chances of doing well.

"Rohit Sharma Is Good But...": Kapil Dev's Intriguing Message To Indian Team

The England cricket team has truly revolutionised the manner in which Test cricket is played. The Ashes 2023 series was dubbed one of the most enthralling cricketing series to have been played in recent times. The impact of 'BazBall', the style of play that the England team has adopted, is such that talks of implementing the same philosophy in other teams is also gaining momentum. In fact, India's legendary captain Kapil Dev feels Rohit Sharma's men should also play in the same manner.

"Kids Look Great Playing Against Kids": Sunil Gavaskar's Intriguing Take On India's T20I Series Loss

The Indian cricket team had a mixe outing on the tour of West Indies. After winning the Test series 1-0, the team somehow managed to beat the hosts in the ODI assignment 2-1. But, the T20I series was a true wake-up call. India went down 0-2 after losing the first two matches and then bounced back to win the next two, making it 2-2. But, the 5th and final T20I resulted in an embarrassing defeat, prompting many to question the state of affairs in the team.