Kapil Dev: "We Certainly Have The Team To Win The Championship"

Legendary Kapil Dev Nikhanj captained India to their maiden World Cup glory in 1983.

He still holds the record of being the youngest captain, at 24, to win a World Cup. Now 60, Kapil talks to Qaiser Mohammad Ali on the upcoming World Cup. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

How do you see the team selected for the World Cup?

The game has become so big; everybody had his opinion about selection. I feel the selectors have done their job and I hope that the captain and management can come out and start winning matches.

Could batting be the weak link of the team?

I don’t even like to talk about that. Raising a finger at anybody is easy. The five selectors must have calculated, along with the captain, how to constitute the team. If they think it’s good enough, it’s good enough.

It’s a long tournament and there are only three specialist pacers, if you discount Hardik Pandya.

Why not consider Pandya as a fast bowler?

Okay. Are four pacers enough?

You are playing nine matches in 50 days [30 days, actually]. If by chance someone is injured, you can have replacements. These three fast bowlers and one fast-bowling all-rounder are good enough.

There’s no specialist off-spinner in the team, and most of the teams have many left-handers. Can we do without an off-spinner?

Give the chosen ones a chance [to prove themselves]. If I start saying this and that, everything is going to be negative. I’m a positive man and I think one should be happy with whatever the team we have.

The format of the tournament has changed, with all 10 teams playing all.