“Brand Kapil Dev” was a formidable force long before the modern vernacular of sports marketing turned athletes into corporate entities. For the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, his status as an icon remains an organic, everlasting phenomenon—a legacy he is now channeling into a new arena. As he transitions into his role as the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), the legendary all-rounder is finding that his influence is the perfect catalyst for the growth of Indian golf.
Sitting on the clubhouse green at the Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, watching the tail-end of a tournament held in his honor, the “Haryana Hurricane” appears remarkably at ease. He is not merely a figurehead; he is an administrator deeply concerned with the mechanics of the sport, mirroring the dedication that once made him the heartbeat of Indian cricket.
A Third Chapter in Sports Leadership
When asked if his foray into golf administration represents a “third act”—following his iconic playing career and his brief stint as the national cricket coach—Dev is quick to deflect the label. He dismisses his time at the helm of the Indian cricket team as a mere tenure rather than a full-fledged coaching assignment.
“I feel very happy doing this for golf,” Dev says, his eyes scanning the fairway. “I love to do work for cricket, but if they don’t invite me, I have to do something else. So, I am happy to apply myself here.”
His approach to golf is pragmatic and focused on development. He views golf through the lens of a sportsman who understands the value of concentration and pressure. Reflecting on his own career, he notes that had he taken up golf during his playing days, the sport’s high-stakes precision would have undoubtedly refined his mental fortitude. However, he warns against treating the game lightly. “Golf is very, very tough,” he emphasizes. “If cricketers want to be professional, they need an eight-to-ten-hour daily workload. They must understand that playing for pleasure is one thing, but professional excellence requires a totally different frame of mind.”
The Physicality of Modern Cricket
Inevitably, the conversation pivots to the current state of cricket, particularly the discourse surrounding workload management and the frequency of player injuries. Dev, who famously remained robust throughout his illustrious career, offers a blunt assessment. He suggests that the modern epidemic of injuries might be tied to a lack of continuity in playing.
“Play more cricket,” he says simply when asked what Hardik Pandya needs to do to remain match-fit. “If you play less and suddenly you play more, your body isn’t tuned to the rigors. If your muscles are fine, your injuries are less. In our time, we played Ranji, Duleep, club, and international cricket. If you can play 250 days out of 365, you are in the game. That’s how you stay tuned.”
While he admits he doesn’t follow the sport as obsessively as he once did, his sharp eye for talent remains. He praises the current generation for their confidence and the wealth of opportunities provided by the BCCI. He highlights the grit of players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose resurgence he credits to pure perseverance, noting that the system is quicker to write players off today than it was in his era.
The Search for the “Next Hero”
Perhaps the most telling aspect of Dev’s worldview is his relentless search for longevity. He speaks about cricket not as a series of highlights, but as a long-distance race. “You’re always looking for the next hero,” he admits. “My mind looks for that young boy who has the chance to replace Virat Kohli. Someone who can play for 15 years.”
Regarding the much-hyped 16-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dev exercises the caution of a veteran. “It’s too early,” he insists. “He has the ability, but many have come with ability and faded. When his lifestyle changes, his thinking will change. Give him another three years; that is more important than looking at his current performance.”
Dev also offered a characteristically candid take on the modern bowling icon Jasprit Bumrah. Despite his own classical, textbook action, Dev expresses nothing but admiration for Bumrah’s unorthodox style. “He is fabulous. Hats off to him. With that action, he’s proved people like us wrong. We never thought he could survive with that action and become the world’s leading bowler.”
Humanitarian Concerns and Future Ambitions
Outside of the game, Dev remains a man of principle. He spoke briefly on his former rival and friend, Imran Khan, emphasizing that his support for the former Pakistan leader is rooted in humanitarian values rather than politics. “As cricketers, we’ve done what we could. I’d like to see him looked after on a humanitarian basis. He was a great cricketer; we grew up watching him.”
Back in his current domain, Dev’s mission is clear: to ensure that professional golfers are treated with the respect and infrastructure they deserve. He laments that the top 50 pros in India still struggle to access private courses for training, calling it a significant limitation for the sport’s growth.
“If you don’t give them the infrastructure, how will they improve?” he asks. As he looks out over the green, it is evident that Kapil Dev—the cricketer, the legend, and now the administrator—is once again playing the long game, focused on building a legacy that will outlast his own name on a tournament trophy.
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