Watch | "People Say There's Pressure In IPL, I Would Say Don't Play": Kapil Dev's Remarks Spark Debate
Legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev's comments on players feeling 'pressure' in IPL and other cricketing tournaments have sparked a huge debate. Kapil, giving an example of his own time, said that he used to play to enjoy the game and where there's enjoyment, there can't be pressure.
One of the finest cricketers to ever grace the sport, Kapil Dev, is a legend in Indian cricket. As the sport becomes more fast-paced, since the arrival of T20 cricket, the dynamics of the game have changed. It isn't just the three formats in international cricket that the players have to deal with these days but also franchise cricket. Even T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) demand a lot from players, sometimes leading to intense pressure situations as well. Kapil Dev, however, doesn't feel cricketers should be playing the sport if they feel 'pressured'.
As a guest on the 'Champions of Aakash 2022' program, organised by an educational institute, Aakash BYJU's, Kapil Dev spoke about how the times have changed in modern as compared to the days when he used to play the sport.
"I had a passion to play. That was the difference. I would change the subject slightly. I hear a lot on TV these days. People say 'there's pressure, we play IPL, there's a lot of pressure'. I only say one thing, 'don't play'. What is this pressure? If you are passionate, there shouldn't be any pressure," he said in the program.
"These 'American words' have come, be it pressure or depression. I don't understand this. I am a farmer. That's where I have come from. We played for enjoyment and where there's enjoyment, there can't be pressure,"Â he further said.
Nailed it @therealkapildev pic.twitter.com/Wbs86nyEQh
— Aces Middle East (@Aces_sports) October 8, 2022
Kapil Dev's comments have invited varied reactions from the world of social media. There are some who feel the generation gap between the times when Kapil used to play to the present is the reason behind this opinion of his.
There are those too who feel Kapil is right in suggesting enjoyment and pressure can't co-exist.
It has to be noted that professional sportspersons, not just in cricket, these days also have a mental health conditioning coach. It isn't just their physical attributes that they need to work on to cope with the demands of the game but also their mental ones.
Kapil's comments have understandably triggered a big debate among the masses.