Kapil Dev refuses to be drawn into Pandya comparison if he continues to make “silly mistakes”

Pandya is a rare breed of player in Indian cricket and his emergence as a proper fast bowling all-rounder was seen as a second-coming of Kapil Dev due to his impressive performances right from the get-go in the international cricket. With the comparisons gaining traction all around India, Kapil had backed Hardik Pandya stating that he had the ability to be a genuine all-rounder but warned that the transformation would not happen overnight. 

However, after Pandya gifted away his wicket in both innings of the second Test in Centurion, Kapil bashed the youngster stating that he did not deserve the comparison if he continued to make silly mistakes. 

"If Pandya keeps making silly mistakes like these then he doesn't deserve to be compared with me," Dev said in an interview with ABP news.

Some lax running cost him his wicket in the first innings and it was compounded by the fact that India looked to be in complete control at the time with Virat Kohli having just gone past the century mark. In the second innings, with a fielder positioned at long stop, Pandya attempted a ramp shot on a short delivery but only managed to nick one to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps. 

While Kapil maintained his stance that Pandya had the talent to become a great all-rounder, he added that the Baroda star needed to work on the mental aspect of the game.

"Hardik definitely has a lot of talent, but I believe he needs to work on the mental aspect," Kapil said.