Don't Compare Virat Kohli With Mahendra Singh Dhoni Right Now: Kapil Dev

Virat Kohli's aggressive captaincy in Tests may have caught everyone's attention, but former India skipper Kapil Dev reminded everybody on Tuesday that he still has a long way to go before being compared to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. (Can Virat Kohli Guide India to Victory in Tests?)

On sidelines of a promotional campaign in Jaipur, the 1983 World Cup winning captain said Dhoni is still the better one when it comes to captaincy.

"Baap ko baap rehne do, beta ko beta. (Let the Father remain in his position and the son in his own)," Kapil said, referring to Dhoni and Kohli.

"Definitely, one day the son will become the dad, but for now let us not compare the two. There is a still long way to go before Kohli, the captain, matches the achievements of Dhoni. Having said that, Kohli has been doing great as a batsman and I am sure he will be equally good as India's captain."

Misquoted on Sachin, Says Kapil

Kapil added that the media had mis-interprated him on his statement that India would have done better if Sachin Tendulkar had more attacking flair. 

"He (Sachin) got stuck with Bombay cricket. He didn't apply himself to the ruthless international cricket. I think he should have spent more time with Vivian Richards than some of the Bombay guys who played just neat and straight cricket," Kapil had said. (Sachin Tendulkar Did Not Know How to Score Double Centuries: Kapil Dev)

Commenting on the India-South Test series, the 56-year-old Kapil said that the pitches for the South Africa Test series should be prepared according to India's strengths.

The former skipper also supported Ravi Shastri's stand after India lost in the fifth ODI against South Africa. The Team India director had criticised Wankhede curator Sudhir Naik after the defeat for the batting-friendly pitch that saw South Africa score match-winning 438. India had lost by 214 runs. (BCCI to Look Into Ravi Shastri-Sudhir Naik Controversy)

'Pitches crucial in Tests'

India go into the four-match Test series against South Africa having lost the T20 and ODI contests. Kapil said the outcome of the series will depend on the kind of pitches prepared.

"India will do well if the pitches are prepared keeping their strength in mind. That is to have good batting wickets that also offer assistance to their spinners. It will be tough to win if the curators end up preparing surfaces that suit South Africa," Kapil said.

He came out in support of Shastri after his controversial argument with Mumbai pitch curator Sudhir Naik post India's defeat in the fifth ODI. (Wankhede curator Sudhir Naik calls for action against Ravi Shastri)

"I am with Ravi on what happened. It was 2-2, the series was on the line and we should have had the pitch that suited India. But that wasn't the case. There is nothing wrong if the home team captain wants a pitch of his choice. We play on fast and bouncy tracks when we travel to South Africa," reasoned Kapil.

Talking about Virender Sehwag's retirement, the World Cup winning captain felt the former India opener deserved a farewell game but the lack of it did not make him a lesser legend.

"We should leave it to selectors to decide. It is not possible to give everyone a farewell game. If you ask me, it doesn't matter whether Sehwag played one more game for India. The fact is that he remains a great player. Azharuddin who played 99 Tests wanted one more game but it didn't pan out that way," he added.

Post announcing his retirement, Sehwag himself had expressed the desire of getting a fitting farewell from the game.

(With inputs from Harsha Kumari Singh, PTI)