Kapil bowled over by pacers’ bench strength
INDIA’S World Cupwinning former captain Kapil Dev last Wednesday (13) said he is impressed with the national team’s bench strength in fast bowling, something that was a “novelty” in his playing days.
“A few decades back, I could not have expected that one day we will have so many quality fast bowlers in our country, players ranked at the top. It is great,” he said..
“During my playing days, fast bowlers were a novelty but now we have enough bench strength. There are enough fast bowlers to win us a match if the top guys are not available,” he added.
The 62-year-old legendary pace bowler had undergone bypass surgery last October, but he was now back on his feet and the illness was a distant memory, he said.
“I am fine, enjoying golf and that is good enough,” he quipped when asked about his health. “I played nine holes this morning. It has been 200 days since I returned to the golf course,” said Dev, who was recently inducted as a board member for Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).
Asked if he has ever wanted to turn pro or represent the country in the Asian Games, he said: “I played for India in cricket. This is all my passion and I am enjoying myself.”
The former skipper was speaking after participating in the worldwide virtual fundraiser golf tournament in New Delhi. The 12-day event, organised by the Rotary Club of Delhi South (RCDS) to raise funds for the surgery of 50 children suffering from Congenital Heart Defects (CHD), ends on Sunday (25).
“I urge the entire golfing community to come together and help the club to achieve their target of giving the ‘Gift of Life’ to children with CHD from underprivileged homes,” he added.