In a recent interview with The Week, cricketing legend Kapil Dev shared his thoughts on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its role in supporting the Indian cricket team. When asked about the current state of the board, Kapil Dev admitted uncertainty, emphasizing that the BCCI’s effectiveness is evident only when the team performs exceptionally well.
Dev stressed the importance of a proactive board that continually strives for improvement. He specifically pointed out the challenging schedule faced by the team during the ODI World Cup, where they had to play 11 matches, involving extensive traveling. Expressing concern, he questioned the decision-making behind such a fixture.
The former Indian captain highlighted the difficulty of managing the team within India when matches are spread across nine different venues, including cities like Dharamshala, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. When asked for a solution, Kapil Dev suggested that, as the board president, he would arrange chartered flights for the team to alleviate their traveling burden. His main focus was on ensuring the players’ well-being and optimal performance on the field, emphasizing that the BCCI should take care of such logistical matters.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Kapil Dev has voiced his opinion on the subject. In 2017, he spoke to The Times of India about the need for the BCCI to have private planes, considering the board’s substantial financial success. He believed that having its aircraft would have been a wise decision several years ago. Drawing a comparison to top golfers in the US who own planes to save time, Kapil Dev envisioned some cricketers purchasing their aircraft in the future.
The former World Cup-winning captain argued that the BCCI’s ownership of planes would allow players to have adequate rest between matches. He expressed confidence that the board could manage the parking charges and even highlighted the potential creation of jobs if the BCCI acquired a plane capable of accommodating 30-40 passengers.
Kapil Dev’s perspective sheds light on the importance of improved travel arrangements for the Indian cricket team. As one of the most respected voices in the cricketing world, his insights may prompt the BCCI to consider ways to optimize player performance and well-being, ensuring that the team continues to excel on the international stage.
