![Kapil Dev and Gautam Gambhir [Source: @Irfanooq/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1764222024020_Kapil_Gambhir.jpg?type=hq)
Kapil Dev and Gautam Gambhir [Source: @Irfanooq/X.com]
From the constant focus on all-rounders, be it Test, ODI or the T20I setup, it is clear that Gautam Gambhir's India is longing for a star performer who can do it both. However, the sad reality is that this has haunted Indian cricket for three decades.
Since Kapil Dev’s retirement in 1994, the Indian Test team has searched in vain for a player who could genuinely command a place as both a frontline batsman and a frontline bowler.
Kapil Dev remains the gold standard. A cricketer who would have been selected for his batting alone (5,248 runs at an average of 31.05) or his bowling alone (434 wickets at an average of 29.64). No Indian has consistently matched this dual threat in the longest format ever since. Here's why.
The system works against all-rounders
India's domestic cricket is played predominantly on flat pitches using the Kookaburra ball, which offers less movement than the traditional SG ball. However, the recent shift to SG ball in Ranji matches might resolve this problem.
Nevertheless, for years, these conditions essentially rewarded batters who bagged big scores and spinners who exploited slow turn. Until 2018, the Duleep Trophy and most A tours also used Kookaburra, which meant fast bowlers rarely learnt reverse swing or long spells.
Hence, fast bowlers, particularly those who could develop into all-rounders, rarely get the conditions or opportunities to hone their skills. A budding all-rounder often bats too low in the order to build substantial innings and doesn't bowl enough overs to become a wicket-taking threat. The system is designed to produce specialists, not dual-role players.
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Selection conundrums hurt the overall aspect
The Indian team management has historically been reluctant to play five bowlers in Test matches, especially overseas. This means any potential all-rounder must be good enough to bat in the top seven.
This high bar has forced many talented players to focus on one discipline. Hardik Pandya, who possessed the raw talent, the 11-match wonder, has been shaped by white-ball demands and persistent injuries, effectively ending his red-ball career.
The "close but not quite" club
Several players have teased the possibility, but none have sustained the required level. Irfan Pathan had his early promise fizzled out after he lost his signature swing.
Hardik Pandya's bowling was potent and batting explosive, but his body couldn't withstand the toil of Test cricket. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, while world-class in their primary discipline (bowling), neither would be selected purely for their batting, especially outside the subcontinent.
The need of a cultural shift in cricketing dynamics
There is a deeply ingrained mindset in Indian cricket that separates batters from bowlers. Young players are often categorised early, and the development of a second skill is treated as a bonus, not a necessity.
We produce "bits and pieces" players for limited-overs cricket but lack the patience to nurture a genuine Test all-rounder, which requires years of dedicated work on both fronts.
The Road Ahead
Gambhir's call for all-rounders is a recognition of this glaring gap. For India to find its next Kapil Dev, systemic changes are crucial. This includes using the SG ball more widely in domestic cricket, preparing more sporting pitches that aid seamers, and nurturing young talent with all-round potential.
Players like Washington Sundar or Nitish Reddy, with a long-term red-ball vision, should be backed strongly. Performance pressure should not bother the players more than the opponent on the field. However, in this era of criticism and scrutiny, one bad performance and the axe has fallen.
Nevertheless, until then, the search for that rare cricketer who can carry the legacy of Kapil Dev will continue. The dream of a genuine Test all-rounder for India remains just that, a dream, unfulfilled for over thirty years.
