Kolkata: India’s limited overs’ specialist Jasprit Bumrah has been one of the main reasons why the team has enjoyed success in the shorter versions of the game. Bursting into the scene with an awkward action, India’s World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev, had initially thought as to how would the Gujarat lad would survive in international cricket.
But Kapil admits that he has not only been proven wrong by the pacer but the 23-year-old has changed the way people looked at bowlers with unorthodox actions.
“He (Bumrah) is fabulous. When I saw Bumrah for the first time, I thought how would he play with such an awkward action. But this player has changed our thought process,” said the Indian legend at the launch of Wonder Cement Saath: 7 Cricket Mahotsav.
He added, “And today we feel players with awkward action will play for their country for long.”
Kapil, who has always been an advocate for maintaining proper fitness heaped praise on Indian skipper Virat Kohli, for making the Indian team into one of the fittest sides in the world today.
“Every captain has his thought process. This captain (Virat Kohli) has brought up an idea of fitness in the team and I think we should respect his decision,” he said.
“You may be very talented but if you can’t take catches and save extra runs for the team, it is of no use. A minimum level of athleticism is required. Yo-Yo test is not something which a player can’t clear.”
He added further, “You may be very talented but if you can’t take catches and save extra runs for the team, it is of no use. A minimum level of athleticism is required. Yo-Yo test is not something which a player can’t clear.”
“I was also very fitness freak and it will be unfair if I don’t stand by it. I feel fitness to zaruri hai (fitness is important). The message that goes to youngsters is that you have to maintain a certain level of fitness. I support Virat in that, ” opined Kapil.
The legendary all-rounder also came out in support of the team management’s move of making the big-hitting Hardik Pandya bat at different positions in order to develop him into a quality all-rounder.
Said Kapil, “The team management knows better. We can have views sitting outside but they know better. We all want Hardik Pandya to do better. Surely, the team management is thinking something good about him.”
On September 28, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced some changes in the rules and regulations of the game which include the changes in the bat size, sending off players for misconduct. There were also changes made to the Decision Review System (DRS).
When asked about these rules, Kapil said, “The changes in the rules are always introduced for the betterment of the game. There should be changes but rules should be modified as well. Only time will tell the impact of the new rules.”