'Open a banana stall or go sell eggs' - Kapil Dev bashes players for crying about 'pressure'

India’s 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has said that a player should better stop playing the game if he feels the pressure of representing the country. The legendary all-rounder hughlighted how the players in the modern day make hue and cry about the pressure, saying that they should "open banana stalls or sell eggs" if they cannot handle playing international cricket.

He also went on to mention that a player should feel privileged of getting an opportunity of representing the country out of a population of 100 crore and therefore, he should take immense pride in it instead of making excuses about having pressure.

"I keep hearing 'We are playing the IPL. There is so much pressure.' This word is so common, right? To them, I say 'Don't play'. Who is asking you to? There is pressure, but if you are playing at that level, you will be admired and abused. If you are afraid of abuses, then don't play. You are representing the country and you have pressure? How is that possible? Out of a country of 100 crore, 20 of you are playing and then you say you have pressure? Instead, say it's a matter of pride. You are getting so much love from people. Learn to take that pride,” said Kapil as quoted by Hindustan Times.

"Pressure is an American word. If you don't want to work, don't. Is anyone forcing you? Jaa ke kele ki shop lagao. Ande becho ja ke. (Open a banana stall, go sell eggs). But when you have gotten an opportunity, why do you take it as pressure. Take it as pleasure and have fun with it,” he added.

Kapil also urged the Indian players to love their job and added that things will get easier if they do their job wholeheartedly. “The day you start doing it, the job will appear easy. But if you call the same thing pressure, nothing good can come of it."