No problems with Virat Kohli blowing kisses after century: Kapil Dev

Virat Kohli’s style of celebration is not an issue for Kapil Dev

India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has said that he has no issues with Indian middle-order batsman Virat Kohli’s flamboyant celebrations upon scoring a century. The 56-year-old urged everyone to accept the fact that the game has moved on tremendously over the past few years. Kohli has recently admitted to dating actress Anushka Sharma, and hasn’t been shy of openly displaying his love for the Bollywood star.

"If Virat Kohli scores a century and then blows a kiss towards his girlfriend, I have no problems. Rather I have problem if a player scores zero and is blowing a kiss. We played cricket in a different era and now its a different era. We have to accept that,” he said at a 'Cricket Conclave' organised by News24.

"We can't just sit back and think that cricket is no longer a gentleman's game. Times have changed. The generation I played was different. We grew up with Test cricket. But now you have sledging, abuses and T20 is an accepted format,” he added.

The openers need to provide a good start: Kapil

Talking about India’s chances at the upcoming World Cup, Kapil said that the onus will rest on the openers to provide the side a good start and added that the Men in Blue would reach the semi-finals, after which every team has an equal chance of clinching the title.

"India I believe will reach semifinals and all four semifinalists will have 25 percent chance. You can't predict from there on. I believe start is very important. I think the first 15 overs will decide how India will perform. I would take 40/0 in first 15 overs which can give us 270 plus total. It's a must. But if India lose 2-3 wickets in 15 overs it will be difficult,” the former all-rounder said.