'Virat, Rohit don't bowl; in T20s everybody should try to' - Kapil Dev reckons India need to develop more all-rounders

All-rounders play a pivotal role to strengthen the team’s position. Their performances across formats help in deciding the fortunes of the game. The former India captain Kapil Dev opened up about the Indian all-rounders. He feels that the current Indian team possesses a lot of talented payers but the side still needs to work in the all-rounder’s department.

One of the best all-rounders of his time, Kapil Dev reckoned that team India should aim to develop more all-rounders. He recounted the instances of the past wherein the former Indian cricket greats could contribute to the team in all departments. He feels that having a batting and a bowling all-rounder in the side should be the way going forward. He also suggested that everybody in the team should try to bowl a few overs.

“If one gets injured, you can still adjust. But if both all-rounders get injured then it can be very tough to adjust. So I would say… I look forward to two all-rounders: a batting all-rounder and a bowling all-rounder. Sachin Tendulkar or Sourav Ganguly were all-rounders who could bowl a few overs but were mainly batsmen. Players like Virat, Rohit don’t bowl at all, so it’s difficult in T20. Everybody should try to bowl a few overs every day to keep the rhythm going.” Kapil Dev said as reported by HT.

For a captain, two all-rounders are very important: Kapil Dev 

When it comes to all-rounders, India has Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Krunal Pandya on the side. There are a few other names as well who can occasionally contribute with both the bat and the ball. Kapil Dev highlighted the importance of all-rounders in T20s and pointed that having options in the all-rounder department helps the skipper to have a good team balance.

“For a captain, two all-rounders are very important – batting all-rounder and bowling all-rounder. Hardik is a batting all-rounder, while I was a bowling all-rounder. So, if a captain can have two such all-rounders in T20, it really helps them. The team becomes solid. You can go with two extra players who can take responsibility of the team. But if you have one all-rounder, the captain struggles,” Kapil Dev stated.