Kapil Dev feels split-captaincy wouldn’t work in Indian culture

Kapil Dev feels split-captaincy wouldn’t work in Indian culture
Kapil dev, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev turned down the idea of having separate captains in different formats. Recently, the talks of having Rohit Sharma as the T20I skipper intensified after he won the fifth title for Mumbai Indians in IPL.

Kapil Dev feels that split-captaincy wouldn’t work in the Indian culture. He said that Virat should lead the national side in all three formats till he’s playing.

“I like to see my culture first. In our culture, it is not going to happen (the split captaincy theory). You can’t have two CEOs in one company. If Virat Kohli is going to play T20 and he is good enough, let him be there,” Kapil Dev said via video conference in Hindustan Times Summit.

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“Even though I like to see other people coming up, it is very difficult for other players. 80% of your team is going to be the same (in different formats). They won’t like to have different captains have different theories. England, Australia, and South Africa are separate. They have a different mindset and culture. But in our culture, it (split captaincy) is going to create differences among players.

Virat should continue for the betterment of team: Kapil Dev

Indian skipper Virat Kohli

The 61-year old feels that having different captains could lead to confusion among players to whom they should look up. Kapil Dev also expressed his satisfaction to have two-three options available even after Virat Kohli leaves the captaincy spot.

“Players might get confused as to whom they should look up to because here we look up to the captain. So I would say for the betterment of the team let it continue like this,” added Kapil.

“If one player like Virat Kohli can’t play T20 or ODIs then I can think of it (of having another captain) but if he is going to play all the formats then I would say let him continue but I’m happy that we have two or three players who can do a good job if Virat is not available,” Kapil Dev said.

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