Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev, who led India to its historic 1983 World Cup win, recently offered some much-needed advice to Indian cricketers following the team’s unexpected 0-3 loss in the Test series against New Zealand. This marked the first time in history that India faced a whitewash in a home Test series of three or more matches.
The Indian batting lineup faltered consistently, unable to counter New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack. Senior players, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, found themselves under scrutiny for their poor form and lack of impactful performances. Kapil, without naming any specific players, shared a simple yet powerful piece of advice: go back to the basics and focus on relentless practice.
“Go back to the basics. Practice and practice and practice. If you say, ‘I will improve by sitting in the room,’ then it is not going to happen. If you are going through a rough time, just practice more. The more you practice, the better it will be for you,” Kapil Dev advised in an interview with CricketNext during the Night Golf Festival event at Jaypee Greens Golf Course in Greater Noida.
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Known for his love of golf post-retirement, Kapil has made a name for himself in the golfing community, especially in the Delhi-NCR region. Reflecting on his transition from cricket to golf, Kapil shared that he’s found immense joy in his second sport, despite its challenges.
“I enjoyed every minute of playing golf. It’s not easy to leave one sport and start enjoying another, but I’m so happy I did. Transitioning from cricket to golf wasn’t simple; I started at around 36-37, so it was a challenge. But having a sports mindset made it easier for me,” he noted.
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Kapil believes his golfing experience could have even benefited his cricket career. “Golf improves concentration. If I had played golf while playing cricket, I think I could have scored an extra 1000-2000 runs. In golf, you focus intensely for that one second when you hit the ball—just like in cricket. Both sports require precision and focus, and they complement each other well,” Kapil concluded, highlighting how the discipline and focus he gained in golf might have made him an even better cricketer.
