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.

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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.