The former Indian captain Kapil Dev has backed Indian pacer Ishant Sharma who is set to comeback to the team after being ruled out of New Zealand test series due to chikungunya.
The 28-year old is tipped to play a key role in the upcoming test series against England which will begin on November 9 at Rajkot. Speaking to the PTI in an event organized by Star Sports, Kapil Dev has hailed Ishant Sharma as a genuine bowler but has suggested him to develop a wicket-taking the ball which the Delhi bowler is lacking in his arsenal as of now.
“I think Ishant is a very good bowler. He is a genuine quick bowler with great height. But he has to develop the wicket-taking ball, that ability to take wickets at crucial times. Perhaps that’s where he is lacking. There is no shortage of ability and talent but somewhere the talent to take wickets is missing,” quoted Kapil Dev.
Despite being one of the top bowlers for India over the past few years, Ishant Sharma has greatly managed to keep runs tight at his end which has helped others to pick up the wickets. And Kapil Dev suggested that bowlers need to bowl consistently to get more wickets.
“One needs to bowl better, consistently bowl a better line and length. It’s not about bowling two very good deliveries in an over but you have to bowl five good balls. Then only you can pick up more wickets,” he quoted.
The former Indian skipper has dismissed talks of Hardik Pandya being compared to himself as he insisted that every player will make a name for himself and need not be compared to any other player.
“You don’t have to find somebody. Every player will come with his own ability to make his own name. Can India find another Sachin Tendulkar, another Sunil Gavaskar?”, he stressed.
The world cup winning captain has also remarked that it should be the selectors who should be finding the talent across the country and will have to develop him into a better player.
“I think everybody comes out with his own performance and personality. It is very difficult to start looking for somebody. My idea is that you should pick the best player around and make him a better player,” he conceded.