England vs India 2018, 3rd Test: Hardik Pandya Should Take Kapil Dev Comparisons Positively - Irfan Pathan

The veteran India all-rounder, Irfan Pathan is the latest to make his voice on Hardik Pandya’s comparisons to Kapil Dev. The left-arm fast bowler feels it is a privilege for any player to get compared with the world-cup winning captain.

Irfan Pathan further feels Kapil Dev is a one of a kind player that graced the game. Pathan felt that coming close to Kapil Dev is a massive achievement which Hardik Pandya should take positively.

It felt like a privilege and added Confidence – Irfan Pathan

If there is any other fast bowling all-rounder for India in the recent past, it would be Irfan Pathan. He has been the consistent performer for India with his willow and the swing bowling back in the day.

The Baroda cricketer recollected moments when he got compared to Kapil Dev and added it feels like a privilege. He furtherly wants Hardik Pandya to see the things positively to display his skills better.

“Everybody came up to me and I remember being asked this Kapil Dev question. I had done well in Pakistan in 2006, standing up against Shoaib Akhtar with the bat, won the Perth Test match, the World T20 in 2007. It felt like a privilege. It added to my confidence than adding to the pressure,” Irfan Pathan recalls.

“I recall when I was new in the Indian team, Rahul Dravid told me one thing that I always remember that the longer you play and the more senior you become, the pressure will become bigger, it will never reduce,” he added.

The comparison should not weigh you down – Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan added the young Pandya should look at the positive side of getting compared to the legend. He feels the positivity will certainly help the player to perform better than the usual.

“Everyone has a different character and they handle things differently. I can’t read his mind currently. But you know Kapil Dev was a once in a lifetime cricketer. For a player the mindset should be to take it positively, it should not weigh you down,” he inferred as per India Today.

However, it would be interesting to see how Hardik Pandya will perform hereon for the country.

He performed exceptionally with the ball at Trentbridge, but there are a lot of lips waiting to flourish in a case of Hardik Pandya failing to carry his form.