WV Raman in conversation with Kapil Dev talks about golf , travel and other aspects of his cricketing career.

When someone wishes good morning , I (Kapil) used to say doesnt matter.

In England learnt very good, someone informed his father passed away, I (Kapil) would say very good.

How Under-19 camp changed his perception when he was discouraged to be a fast bowler as India was spin dominant side.

“There are no fast bowlers in India.”

I would pay to watch the initial days of Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag, last overs finish of Dhoni.

Some of the major topics covered in the podcast varied from little master Sehwag comparison.

“Sachin had talent, which many did not possess. Another such player was Shivaramakrishnan who has great talent. He was born in an era where he knew how to score hundreds but he never became a ruthless batsman. Sachin had everything in cricket. He knew how to score hundreds but didn’t know how to convert those hundreds into double-hundreds and triple-hundreds. Sachin had the talent to make at least five triple-centuries and another ten double-hundreds because he could hit fast bowlers and spinners for a six or a four every over. Sachin’s strength was par excellence and incomparable, but after reaching a century, he would often take a single and get off strike. He bought up with a Bombay cricket where after scoring 100 you again start with zeros. That’s why I used to tell Sachin to be like Sehwag and vice versa. “

The pick among the four all rounders Botham, Hadlee ,Imran and himself.

“The best bowling was Hadlee’s – he was like a computer among the four of us. I wouldn’t say Imran Khan was the best athlete or the most natural, but he was the most hardworking player we’ve seen. When you see his young days career, he looked like an ordinary bowler, but then he became a very hardworking fast bowler and he learned by himself. And then he worked on his batting as well. Ian Botham was a true allrounder – in given conditions, he could win a match on his own. I wouldn’t say Hadlee was the best batsman. Botham could do damage to the opposition both with bat. Imran could run through the opposition team, but his ability as a leader was far better. To control the Pakistan team he had was a challenge. It seems as most of the players of Pakistan were coming from Bhindi Baazar.

“I wouldn’t say I was the greatest, but I was a better athlete than put all three put together.”

Full interview https://wvraman.buzzsprout.com/1114076/4667348-how-would-you-rate-kapil-dev-s-contribution-to-indian-cricket?play=true