Dhoni's Team Is The Best Ever, Feels Kapil Dev

DURBAN: Former India captain Kapil Dev feels that the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side is the best ever team in the history of Indian cricket.

"Without any doubt, I would say that this is the best Indian team ever," said Kapil, who is here to take part in the second edition of the World Cricket Legends - 15-a-side cricket tournament in the wild between former India and South African players, organised by Beyond Boundaries.

"When you have so many records, so much experience and have done so well, you can't complain about anything at all," he added.

Kapil feels that one should never compare two generations and said that we should always believe that our next generation is better than the previous one. That's mantra of moving forward, the legendary all-rounder opined.

"You can never compare a son with his father. The fathers never had the modern day gadgets that their sons are used to nowadays. Yet they worked tirelessly to get everything for their kids. That's why it is unfair to compare two generations. But you always want your son to be better than you," he said.

"The next generation has always been and will be better than the previous one. If it is not then we aren't moving forward as a society. If you at all have to compare, I would say this team is far better."

Kapil, meanwhile, denied that there is any extra pressure on Sachin Tendulkar to score his hundredth international ton, stating that the champion batsman has been handling pressure since he made his debut.

"When was Tendulkar not under pressure? Since age of 16, we have been putting pressure on him like comparing him with Sir Don Bradman and all that. He is always under pressure. I wonder if he would be able to perform if you don't write about him, talk to him and there is no crowd.

"I think he can only play under pressure. And the good part is, he is 99 not out. He likes to take pressure," he said.

Kapil also expressed his disappointment at how someone as promising as Irfan Pathan went off the boil.

"I think there is too much pressure. Look at (Irfan) Pathan. I thought he was coming up too well but suddenly he went off the boil. I thought he was moving in the right direction, perhaps, in today's world there is too much pressure and too much hard work. I don't think the players can handle themselves. It is tough life."

Still out of favour from the BCCI after he decided to switch favours for the unsanctioned ICL, Kapil wants the cricket establishment to approach him rather than him reaching out to them.

"The only thing is that the young players and the BCCI have to come back to me. They have to come back if they think they can learn something. It is up to the BCCI to sort these things out," he insisted.

Kapil recently had came out in the support of the proposed Sports Development Bill and insisted that he would always stand for it.

"The Sports Bill is speaking about the betterment of sports in the country. Forget about whether I have an advantage or a disadvantage. If it is good for sports but not personally for me then my personal liking should not come before the country. That's what I believe."

He feels that it's not something unreasonable to ask BCCI to be counted as a National Sports Federation (NSF).

"If it is for the betterment of sports we should all support it. Are we asking for anything unreasonable or unethical? No, we are not. If I am not ready to be accountable then it is sad," said Kapil.