Kapil Dev: 'Today's generation doing better than myself, Hadlee, Botham'

"(Richard) Hadlee, myself, Imran (Khan) and (Ian) Botham should forget our time and look at the present times. These young boys are very very talented. They are doing far better than us. So, we should respect this generation," said Kapil Dev.

Kapil Dev said a player's all-round abilities could be judged only after he or she plays 50 Tests.

Former India captain Kapil Dev said that all-rounders in international cricket should be compared only after each one has played 50 Test matches in his or her career.

Kapil, one of the best all-rounders of the sport, said that one shouldn't conclude a player's all-round abilities after just two or three series.

“I think, people should give a cricketer 50 Test matches before putting him into the race of being the best all-rounder. Somebody you are talking about and comparing with after two or three series is unfair,” Kapil said at the inauguration of the second Krishapatnam Port Golden Eagles Golf Championship here.

Kapil, however, said that some of today's all-rounders are better than Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, Ian Botham and himself.

“Hadlee, myself, Imran and Botham should forget our time and look at the present times. These young boys are very very talented. They are doing far better than us. So, we should respect this generation,” 57-year-old said.

Asked about who is the best seam bowling all-rounder, Kapil joked: “I am the last one. That’s it."

On a serious note, he said: “But, it will be unfair to single out a current player to say he is the best all-rounder, who could be in the league of Ian Botham, Imran Khan and Sir Richard Hadlee.”

Kapil refused to predict who will come up trumps during the upcoming India versus New Zealand series.

“I don’t make any prediction. I always went out and played my game. I would like to see what approach both teams adopt in the first Test. It is very difficut to say. Anything can happen,” he said.

“I know more about my team but I don’t know much about the opposition so it will not be right on my part to make any comments,” said Kapil.