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'Why Talk About Only Rohit, Virat...?': Kapil Dev Lends Ferocious Advice Team India

Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli are opening in T20 WC 2024 (AP)Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli are opening in T20 WC 2024 (AP)

India's first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Thursday said collective performance, not individual brilliance will be the key factor in deciding whether Rohit Sharma's team can end its over-a-decade-long trophy drought by winning the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.

India will take on England in the semifinal on Thursday, hoping to make the finals where South Africa are in waiting after annihilating Afghanistan.

"Why talk about only Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, or Kuldeep Yadav? Everybody has a role to play. Their job is to win the tournament," Kapil told PTI Videos in an exclusive interview. 

Play as team, not individuals to win T20 WC: Kapil

"To win a match, an odd person can come out, but to win a tournament everybody has to work together. If we are going to depend on Bumrah or Arshdeep, then you are going to lose it," he asserted. 

"Let's talk about the team. That gives you a better perspective rather than the odd player. Yes main player is there and we can go around him. But everybody has to chip in to win the World Cup," he added.

Kapil pointed out that in his 1983 World Cup-winning team, he wasn't the only one who performed.

"Roger Binny, Mohinder Amarnath, Kirti Azad, Yashpal Sharma all came out with match-winning performances. If you start depending on one player it means you are not going to win tournaments more often," he observed.

He wished India good luck ahead of their semi-final match against England and hoped that the Men in Blue clinch the trophy.

"All the Best, good luck, I hope the Indian players, the way they are playing keep on playing like that, they should not have a bad day and be out of the tournament (like) what happened last time in the 50 overs World Cup," said the iconic all-rounder. 

"They are playing well, they are enjoying. Hats off to them. Good luck to them. I wish them all the luck and happiness," he added.

The 65-year-old said that he feels proud to see India perceived as title contenders every time they compete in a global event.

"We should be happy that we are able to think that we can win. 20 years back, you weren't thinking. It's important that in every tournament India is going as a favourite. That's a big thing. We never thought about that. That's enough encouragement for a youngster to take up the sport. I am very happy to see where Indian cricket has reached wonderfully well," he emphasised.