But They Played Well

In a room filled with eager faces, the air buzzed with anticipation as cricket legend Kapil Dev swaggered in to take centre stage at a book launch in Chennai. The crowd, predominantly women, hung on to every word as Kapil wove tales of his journey, both on and off the cricket field, and effortlessly charmed them with his inimitable wit and candid reflections on life.

“I realised that three things you lose when you get old — one is eyesight, the second is hearing, and the third I have forgotten,” quipped Kapil, setting the tone for an evening filled with laughter.

“It might take 15 years to read this book because I am not a good reader. That’s why I started playing. I hold a deep admiration for writers and storytellers. Those abilities you lack, you naturally hold in high esteem, turning them into your inspiration,” added the former India captain.

By his own admission, Kapil chose to be an introvert during his playing days because of his “lack of English knowledge,” but he feels he has made amends after retirement. “I hardly spoke during my playing days. Now, I can’t keep the mic down. I got married to a woman who spoke only English. I learnt from her,” he said. “The first thing you learn in a language is bad words. My former teammate Kris Srikkanth has taught me many in Tamil,” he chuckled.

As the event unfolded, the audience queued up to hug the cricketing icon and capture moments with him through selfies. “The pandemic taught me to live in the moment. I now prioritize self-growth through travel. Meeting Nelson Mandela in South Africa was a defining moment; I chose a 10-minute conversation over a photo, a memory I cherish.”

As India’s first World Cup-winning skipper, Kapil’s absence at the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad was conspicuous. When Kapil had revealed that he was not invited, the Indian cricket Board faced a lot of flak on social media. But the legend has been tight-lipped about the controversy.

The 64-year-old displayed humility and grace while talking about Team India's disappointing defeat in the ODI World Cup final recently. “Today’s cricketers... sorry they couldn’t win the World Cup, but they played well. I know in our minds, winning is everything. But the way of play is more important. Australia played better on that day. We should respect that. I’m disheartened that India played so well and yet they couldn’t win the trophy. Let’s hope we’ll learn and do it better. That’s the way we are.” Kapil also revealed that he treasures Chennai, his preferred ground, prioritizing it over Lord’s or Mumbai.