Kapil laments selectors’ role during his playing days

Kolkata Sep 30: India's first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Friday lamented that during his cricketing days, selectors used to call the shots and not the captains as it happens nowadays.

Answering points made by dashing former India opener Virender Sehwag that behind every successful players is the backing of his captain, Kapil, who captained India to World Cup glory in 1983, said, "I think during our time, behind a successful player there needed (to be) a successful selector."

Kapil, one of India's greatest players, was speaking during the lunch-time talk show at the photo exhibition commemorating India's 500 Tests. On the dais were former India captain and current Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly, Sehwag and current India coach Anil Kumble.

"It happens now that the captain is the boss. In our time, in one generation 6-7 captains were playing. I hoped selectors would have changed during that point and new selectors would come who would give the responsibility to the captain and his job is over," Kapil said.

"You play one bad shot and you're out of the team. Now you play 10 bad shots but still have your chance because the captain is backing you. This can happen now, but not in our time."