South Africa vs India 2018: "Don't compare Hardik Pandya with me," says Kapil Dev
What's the story?
India's World Cup-winning captain and former all-rounder Kapil Dev has lashed out at Hardik Pandya for his frivolous approach, which cost India crucial moments in the second Test against South Africa at Centurion. “If Pandya keeps making silly mistakes like these then he doesn't deserve to be compared with me," Kapil told ABP News.
In case you didn't know..
In the first innings of the match, Pandya was run out, as instead of dragging his bat into the crease, he casually tried to enter it with the throw from mid-on ending up hitting the stumps. His bat, as well as both his feet, were in the air as South Africa got rid of him cheaply.
In the second essay, with India in dire straits on the fifth day while chasing 287, Pandya attempted his famous ramp shot where he swiftly lifts the ball over the slips for a big hit. But on that occasion, the ball came off the tip of the bat for wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock to jump at and grab a good catch.
The heart of the matter
The now 59-year-old Dev was critical of Pandya for the casual way he handled situations, though praising his abilities at the same time. "He definitely has a lot of talent, he has shown it in the first Test but I believe he needs to work on the mental aspect," Kapil said.
Dev's former teammate Sandip Patil, who has also been India's chief selector, also said that it was too early to compare the two all-rounders. "I have played a lot of cricket with Kapil, really there is no comparison. Kapil played 15 years for India with terrific performances and Pandya is only in his fifth Test match. There is a long way to go," he said.
What's next?
The final Test between South Africa and India starts on January 24 at Johannesburg with the hosts having already taken an unbeatable 2-0 lead following wins at Cape Town and Centurion. Post the Tests, the limited-overs leg of the tour will kick off, with 6 ODIs and 3 T20s to be played.
Author's Take
It is only fair that Pandya gets criticized for errors by a veteran cricketer like Kapil Dev. His run out in the first innings went a long way in India ceding control to South Africa as they eventually fell short by 28 runs with only captain Virat Kohli standing.