Rahul Dravid namedropped as Kapil Dev attacks Gautam Gambhir’s India following whitewash to South Africa

Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev has slammed the Indian team after their 0-2 defeat against South Africa in the two-match Test series at home. Dev said that India’s repeated struggles against spin were not surprising, as many current players do not play on different types of pitches or against domestic bowlers.

India suffered their second home Test series defeat in 13 months. Notably, it's the first time they have lost Test series in back-to-back years at home since 1984. India’s batting struggled badly against South Africa’s attack and repeatedly failed to counter off-spinner Simon Harmer, who was named Player of the Series.

If You Don’t Play Domestic Cricket… - Kapil Dev Slams Team India

Speaking to Sportstar, Kapil Dev pointed out that many modern players rarely take part in domestic cricket on challenging surfaces. He stated that earlier generations developed their footwork and technique by regularly playing on varied pitches and facing quality bowlers.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

“That was because they had individual style, footwork, and the fact that they played good domestic cricket on a variety of pitches,” Kapil Dev told Sportstar.

"I just want to know how many of today’s top players are playing domestic cricket. That’s the most crucial thing. If you don’t play domestic cricket and don’t face quality bowlers, you are going to struggle," he added.

It Is Not Good for the State of the Five-Day Game - Kapil Dev

The 1983 World Cup-winning skipper was also not impressed with the pitch used for the first Test in Kolkata, where the match finished in less than three days. He said that these kinds of surfaces are becoming far too common and are hurting Test cricket.

“The pitches are very, very important. Not the type where the game ends in two and a half days. You lose the toss and lose the game. What is the point of having a pitch where no team crosses 200? It is not good for the state of the five-day game,” Dev stated.

In the first Test, India collapsed while chasing a modest 124-run target and lost by 30 runs. The second match in Guwahati went even worse, as India suffered a huge 408-run defeat — their biggest loss in terms of runs in a Test match at home.

Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman Knew How to Stay at the Wicket - Kapil Dev

Kapil Dev said that modern players are struggling in Test cricket because they rarely face difficult, bowler-friendly pitches. He added that batters like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman knew how to survive long spells in the middle, but today’s players lack that mindset, which is essential for Test cricket.

“We are more occupied with T20s and ODIs, which means that batters hardly encounter bowler-friendly pitches. On surfaces offering a lot of help to spin and seam, you need patience and a different set of skills to thrive," Kapil opined.

"Once you are ready to play on those pitches, your mindset affects how you tackle them. You do not have batters like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who knew how to stay at the wicket. Batting in Tests is about staying in the middle,” he added.

Also read: Ayush Mhatre destroys ‘idol’ Rohit Sharma’s long-standing record in stunning fashion