Kapil Dev wants the young Indian team to play without pressure when it takes on England in a five-Test series beginning June 20 at Leeds.
“It is always tough to play in England because of the exacting conditions. Also, the home team can throw up new challenges in conditions they are better placed to exploit, but this Indian team, with a new captain (Shubman Gill), raises hopes of a new era to look forward to,’ Kapil told Sportstar. Kapil was the captain of the famous 1986 series, in which India won 2-0.
Kapil emphasized, “It won’t be easy. It is never easy in England and Australia, but someone must take responsibility. Gill is the man suited to assume the role of a leader. The selectors have weighed all the strong points and made him the captain with a purpose, a long-term investment. He will need the support of the team and the fans. He is young and will learn to give his best and bring the best out of the boys.”
When reminded that Gill has a poor batting average playing in England, Kapil retorted, “This is a new assignment, and I only look at the positive side of it. It does not matter what his average was in the previous tour to England. Let us not talk negative. He has been picked based on his potential, and I know he would excel.”
England can test your skills as a batter, and Kapil observed that it is also one tour where you can bounce back. “You learn to cope with the weather’s demands because it can change drastically within five overs. Ultimately, it boils down to how the bowlers perform. In 1986, we bowled exceptionally well. We took wickets, and that is how you win matches.”
India benefitted from a team that followed the horses for courses policy in 1986. Kapil, Chetan Sharma, Roger Binny and Madan Lal bore the brunt, with left-arm spinners Maninder Singh and Ravi Shastri completing the attack. Kapil and Chetan flattened England in the first Test at Lord’s and then ripped apart the opposition in the next Test at Leeds, winning by 279 runs. Binny, Kapil and Maninder Singh gave the English batting lineup a nightmare to help India win only its second Test series on English soil after the historic 1971 triumph.
“These boys are also playing in June-July, and I am sure they will adapt,” said Kapil. “True, there is going to be a void with Virat (Kohli) and Rohit (Sharma) having retired from Test cricket, but then India did encounter such a situation when Sunil (Gavaskar), Sachin (Tendulkar) and (Rahul) Dravid retired. India rebuilt the team then, and it will rebuild now. The youngsters have to grab the chance and perform. You may win or lose, but every time, you will learn.”
Looking at the difficult tour, Kapil noted, “It is good the expectations are not high because the team is young. It will help Gill and his team. It is sometimes better to be underdogs. You can perform better. For me, Gill is a player ready to take on the world. With support from (Jasprit) Bumrah, I am sure Gill will emerge as a strong captain. He will learn to shoulder responsibility; a good form with the bat should help him achieve his goal. I am happy for Gill because he looks like a solid batsman. He should remember never to relax when playing in England.”
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“Patience” will be the key in England, says Kapil. “Much will depend on how the bowlers perform. The plan should be simple – take wickets at critical stages and keep the opposition under pressure. The batters must show patience in the middle since the conditions can be extremely challenging. The bowlers can bounce back in every session in England. Let Gill remember that he has been chosen based on his talent. I want him to enjoy his cricket. There are competent members on the team to help him move his dream forward. He has to stay positive.”