Former India captain Kapil Dev slammed the batters for their dismal performance in the recently-concluded two-match Test series against South Africa and called them out for not playing domestic cricket. He opined that if the batters don't play domestic cricket at all, then they will likely struggle against the top bowlers in the world.
Kapil criticises Kolkata pitch
Kapil was also critical of the pitches that were used for the series, in particular the track in Kolkata where both the team weren't able to take their total over the 200-run mark in any of the four innings. Ultimately, India failed to chase down the 124-run target and got bowled out for only 93.
“I just want to know how many of today’s top players are playing domestic cricket. That’s the most crucial thing. If you don’t play domestic cricket and don’t face quality bowlers, you are going to struggle," Kapil told Sportstar.
“The pitches are very, very important. Not the type where the game ends in two and a half days. You lose the toss and lose the game. What is the point of having a pitch where no team crosses 200? It is not good for the state of the five-day game," he added.
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Kapil further remarked that the current Indian batters are more occupied with playing ODIs and T20Is, leading to them struggling on bowler-friendly pitches. He namedropped legends like VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, who knew how to bat for long periods in Tests and stated that India do not have batters like them in the current team.
“We are more occupied with T20s and ODIs, which means the batters hardly encounter bowler-friendly pitches. On surfaces offering a lot of help to spin and seam, you need patience and a different set of skills to thrive. Once you are ready to play on those pitches, your mindset affects how you tackle them. You do not have batters like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, who knew how to stay at the wicket. Batting in Tests is about staying in the middle," Kapil stated.
“You need better skills to tackle spin than to play pace, but it depends on the state of the pitch. If the turn or bounce is vicious, it becomes very difficult. Remember, footwork plays an important role," he further added.
India hope for redemption in ODI series
Meanwhile, India will be looking to bounce back after losing the Test series against South Africa. The two teams will now be locking horns in a three-match ODI series that will commence from November 30. With Shubman Gill absent due to injury, the Men in Blue will be led by KL Rahul. All eyes will be on the duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they feature in their first home assignment since February, 2025.