Kapil Dev: BCCI should look at three different captains for different formats

Kapil Dev

India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has said that the BCCI should look at the possibility of having separate captains for different formats of the game in the future. At this moment, MS Dhoni leads India in the ODI and T20 formats while Virat Kohli has recently taken over as the captain in Tests.

"Every Test player can't be a good captain in T20. And every T20 captain is definitely not good enough to lead a Test side. It's very difficult because in Tests you need thinking. I hope my country and the cricket board will have the sense to have two or three different captains. It will help our game,” the 56-year-old said during the 4th Pataudi Memorial Lecture, organized by The Telegraph.

Non-playing captain in cricket?

He also felt that in the future, one could also use a non-playing captain in the game, just like in the case of tennis.

“I think a time will come when you will have a non-playing captain who can assess the game much better. Technology is changing so fast. Man management is required in cricket and coach can be a senior cricketer.

"Now cricket has changed so much. In cricket, one thing is good, everybody is an expert and I feel that's why the sport is so popular. Everybody is a selector in our country and gives his opinion," the former Indian all-rounder said.

Kapil praises Dhoni

He also praised the decision of Dhoni to retire from the longest format of the game, and said that the manner in which he bowed out of Test cricket, knowing that he was close to completing 100 Tests, is something for everyone to think about. He also remembered a quote by former Indian coach Greg Chappell.

"You could have easily played 100 Tests. We could not do it what you have done by saying 'goodbye, I've done my best and let the next generation come out'. That's why I say 'Dhoni well done, you're my man’.

"Dhoni you're a great guy. You have served the country so well. He has done a good thing. A lot of people said he should have played at least 100 Tests. I think he has given us a new thought. You don't have to play throughout your life. You should retire when you think the next generation is coming.

"He (Chappell) had said one thing which I admire. Any cricketer who plays longer than his time kills the next three generation. It's a thought I truly admire," he added.

He further hoped that the administrators in India also go by the same principle and don’t remain in office for several decades.

"I hope in cricket, the administration people will learn from it and not stick to their chairs for 30 years or lifetime, " he said.

Kapil’s thoughts on captaincy

Kapil also showered praise on Tiger Pataudi and spoke about what he had learned while playing under Bishan Singh Bedi and Sunil Gavaskar.

"Certain people don't go. He's the best cricketer we had and we are proud of him. He has given us a new thinking. Lot of people followed him including myself," Kapil said about Pataudi.

"My first captain was Bishan Singh Bedi who had a very big heart very typical Sardarji and played with passion. My second captain was Sunil Gavaskar. He didn't have a big heart but he had big thinking.

"So I told myself I would like to be like Bedi off the field and like Gavaskar on the field. You may be an inborn leader, but you can still learn from different individuals. That's the way I look at captaincy," he added.