Some cricket rivalries go far beyond what happens on the field. Kapil Dev, one of India’s greatest all-rounders, knows the intensity of the India-Pakistan rivalry well. However, he also sees the relationship between players in a different way.
In a recent conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai, Kapil spoke about the recent handshake controversy. He also discussed his relationship with former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and explained why playing for India always mattered more to him than his position in the team.
The conversation also showed another side of Kapil. He spoke about the toughest players he faced, the cricketers he admired, and whether he would ever enter politics.
Kapil Dev on the India-Pakistan handshake controversy
The India-Pakistan handshake controversy became one of the main topics of the conversation.
Rajdeep asked Kapil what he would have done if he had been India’s captain during the situation. He also asked whether Kapil would have shaken hands with Pakistan’s representative or accepted the Asia Cup from him.
Kapil did not give a simple personal answer. He said that an India captain must follow the decision of the cricket board or the government.
“If my cricket board say you don’t shake, I will not shake. If my cricket board will say don’t play with Pakistan, I will not play,” Kapil Dev said in a conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai on Sports Tak.
Kapil Dev said that official policy would come before his personal choice. He explained that an India captain has to represent the country and follow the decisions made by the board or government.
“Country’s policy bigger than my thought process.”
Kapil also said that the relationship should not reach a point where the two sides cannot communicate in the future.
“Never reach to that level where you can’t shake hand tomorrow.”
His comments showed that he would follow official policy while still leaving room for better relations in the future.
Why Kapil Dev supported humane treatment for Imran Khan
The conversation then moved to Imran Khan, one of Kapil’s biggest rivals during his playing career.
Rajdeep asked Kapil about signing a letter that called for more humane treatment for Imran. The former Pakistan captain later became the country’s Prime Minister.
Kapil separated his personal respect for Imran from the political and legal issues around him.
“We all collectively, we said give him the decency of humanity what a person is required.”
Kapil did not want to comment on Pakistan’s internal political or legal matters. Instead, he focused on treating a person with basic human decency.
He also remembered Imran as a player who represented Pakistan at the highest level.
“He made his country proud, played with us.”
For Kapil, respecting Imran as a former cricketer did not mean supporting everything related to his political career.
For Kapil Dev, the India-Pakistan rivalry ended after the match
Kapil also explained how he viewed the rivalry during his playing days.
Rajdeep asked whether Kapil saw Imran as a rival or an enemy. Kapil gave a clear answer. He wanted to beat Imran whenever they played against each other.
“Absolutely. I hate him on the field.”
But Kapil did not carry that feeling outside the match.
“On the field, off the field. We are sports people. We have to move on next day.”
For Kapil, playing against Pakistan meant giving everything for India. But after the match, he did not see a reason to continue that rivalry in personal life.
Rajdeep also asked Kapil to compare himself with Imran as an all-rounder. Kapil refused to make the comparison.
“I was just serving my country.”
This answer also showed one of the main ideas behind Kapil’s comments. He always put India and the team ahead of his own achievements.
Captaincy was never bigger than playing for India
Kapil shared the same thinking when he spoke about losing the captaincy.
Rajdeep asked him about some of the difficult moments of his career, including the time when he lost the captaincy.
Kapil said he never treated the captaincy as something that belonged to him.
“If they remove me, captaincy, they made me captain. They removed me.”
For Kapil, the bigger thing was continuing to play for India.
“As long as I’m representing my country.”
He then shared a wider lesson about leadership.
“Your ego should not be bigger than the team and the team ego should not be bigger than the country.”
Kapil said that losing the captaincy should not become a personal problem when the bigger goal is still the same. He believes an individual should not put their ego above the team. At the same time, the team should never put itself above the country.
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Who was Kapil’s toughest opponent?
During the rapid-fire section, Kapil did not name one famous player as his toughest opponent.
Instead, he gave a simple answer.
“The person who I can’t get him out. He’s the toughest.”
Kapil also joked about lower-order batters who made things difficult by staying at the crease when he expected to get them out quickly.
His answer showed how he looked at competition. A player’s reputation did not matter to him as much as whether he could actually get that player out.
Sunil Gavaskar and Vivian Richards were among the players Kapil Dev admired
Kapil was also asked about the players he admired most.
Among Indian cricketers, he named Sunil Gavaskar.
For an overseas player, Kapil chose Vivian Richards. However, his respect for Richards went beyond his batting.
“I admire Vivian Richards not for his cricket, the way he conduct himself.”
Kapil liked the way Richards behaved and carried himself. This showed that Kapil valued a player’s character and conduct along with what they did on the cricket field.
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Why Kapil Dev does not want to enter politics
The conversation also touched on politics.
Rajdeep asked Kapil if he could ever see himself becoming a politician.
Kapil gave a direct answer.
“No, not at all.”
He then explained why he does not think politics would suit him.
“I am too outspoken. In politics, you have to be yes-man and I will be never yes.”
Kapil’s answer matched the personality he showed throughout the interview. He spoke directly and said that he would not simply agree with people for the sake of agreeing.
Kapil Dev’s conversation with Rajdeep Sardesai covered much more than his cricket career.
His comments on the India-Pakistan rivalry showed how he separates national duty from personal relationships. His comments about Imran Khan also showed his belief in basic human decency.
His views on captaincy followed the same idea. The individual should never become bigger than the team or the country.
From refusing to compare himself with Imran to naming Gavaskar and Vivian Richards as players he admired, Kapil focused on character, conduct, and service rather than personal status.
Do Kapil Dev’s views offer a different perspective on the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry today? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
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