Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 22: Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has made an impassioned appeal to his longtime friend and legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev to take an active role in mentoring the next generation of Indian cricketers. Speaking candidly in an interview with IANS, Yograj emphasized that cricket greats like Kapil carry a responsibility to give back to the sport by grooming future stars.

Recalling his deep bond with the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Yograj described Kapil as fearless, gifted, and someone he knew better than even Kapil’s own family. “Players like him are not born every day,” he said, crediting Kapil with an exceptional cricketing mind. “He knows everything—how to bowl inside, outside. That’s rare knowledge.”

Yograj likened the act of mentoring a young player to planting a tree in one’s name, urging Kapil to take on the role of nurturing at least one fast bowler for India. “If you give to the nation—even if you go hungry yourself but feed someone else—then God opens treasures for you,” he said, invoking a deeper spiritual purpose behind the act of mentorship.

But his message wasn’t just for Kapil Dev. Yograj extended the call to all past and present Indian cricketers, asserting that if each one commits to producing even a single quality player, India will become an unstoppable force in world cricket. “If every cricketer does this, then, by God’s grace, no team will be able to defeat India in the years to come,” he concluded.

Yograj’s comments strike at the heart of a broader conversation about legacy, responsibility, and the vital role of experience in shaping the next wave of cricketing talent in India.