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There is more room for improvement for India: Kapil Dev

INDIA can still improve upon their dominant displays, despite the “wonderful and unbelievable” heroics that saw them lift the ICC Cricket World Cup, former India skipper Kapil Dev said at the 12th Shyam Bhatia Awards on Monday evening.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men ended a 28-year wait to reclaim the trophy won by Dev and his team-mates back in 1983 with an assertive six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka earlier this month.

However, there remain question marks over two facet’s of the current crop’s play and thus still room for improvement ahead of upcoming tours to the West Indies and England respectively.

“They played fantastic cricket, but I still feel they can perform far better than that,” the ‘Haryana Hurricane’, 52, said.

“Winning is fine, but they still have more potential to show to the world – their ability is far, far greater than what they performed. They’re such a good team.

“They have to work harder on a couple of aspects to remain on top because the bowling and fielding parts are very important. I don’t have any doubts about their ability on the batting side.

“But, then again, everything looks good when you win and they’re right on top of their performance.”

India’s players had very little time to reflect upon — and savour — their historic achievement on home soil, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) coming hot on the heels of the tournament prior to the two trips abroad.

That relentless schedule seemingly needs to change, with the legendary Chandigarh-born all-rounder calling for a prolonged period of inactivity for everybody concerned immediately thereafter.

“I feel personally, when you win the World Cup, you must get at least a month to celebrate with your family and friends and for the state to honour you,” Dev explained.

“I feel sorry for the cricketers that they don’t get enough time to spend with their families, their sponsors, the people who are looking after them and their friends because you don’t get a time like that every now and then.

“The breathing time for the rest of the world should one month after the World Cup. I would like to see the boys given enough time to enjoy themselves, having worked so hard.”

Dev expects India’s wondrous win at the Wankhede Stadium should see them start “aiming at how long they can remain on top.”

Nonetheless, getting to the summit in competitive sport can often prove somewhat easier than staying there, with the great right-hander adding: “You have to work in every department.

“It’s easier to reach the top than it is to maintain that position, which is very tough. It’s going to be hard, but they have the team that can win all of the matches.”

alex@khaleejtimes.com