Kapil Dev: “If Pandya keeps making silly mistakes like these then he doesn’t deserve to be compared with me”

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India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was recently compared to the legendary Kapil Dev, but the latter did not take too kindly too it, especially as he is becoming increasingly frustrated with Panyda’s “silly mistakes”.

Kapil’s comments come after Pandya threw away his wicket en route to India’s 135-run loss to South Africa in the second Test in Centurion.

With India struggling at 164/5 in their chase of 287 to win, Pandya only mustered six runs before he flashed at a ball way outside his off stump and ended up being caught behind off the bowling of debutant Lungi Ngidi, who finished with a six-wicket haul.

Given that the stroke Pandya played was completely unnecessary in the situation India were in, Kapil feels that as long as the 24-year-old continues to make such errors, he doesn’t deserve to be compared to him.

“If Pandya keeps making silly mistakes like these then he doesn’t deserve to be compared with me,” Kapil told ABP News as quoted by NDTV.

While Kapil acknowledged that Pandya is a talented cricketer, the 59-year-old believes that the all-rounder needs to further develop the mental aspect of his game.

“He definitely has a lot of talent, he has shown it in the first Test but I believe he needs to work on the mental aspect.” Kapil said.