'He is not bowling so can we call him all-rounder?'- Kapil Dev questions Hardik Pandya role in the team

Hardik Pandya hasn't had the best of times recently in international cricket. While he bowled some overs in the Sri Lanka tour, in mid-2021, he had a nightmarish tour with the bat. Further, he failed to get going in IPL 2021 but was expected to turn the tides in the T20 World Cup 2021 edition, in the UAE.

A vital cog in India's scheme of things in white-ball cricket. The flamboyant Pandya bowled in just two matches in the recent T20 World Cup . There India went out in the group stage itself.

He is also under fire for not revealing the extent of his several fitness issues. A that nd was dropped from the home T20 series against New Zealand, which India won 3-0.

Hardik Pandya seems to be a all-rounder

"Hardik has to do both the jobs to be considered an all-rounder. He is not bowling so can we call him all-rounder? Let him bowl, he has come out from the injury," Kapil said at the Royal Calcutta Golf Course here.

"He is an extremely important batter to the country, for bowling he has to play a lot more matches, perform and bowl and then we will say," added India's first World Cup-winning captain.

Kapil also predicted that Rahul Dravid the coach will be a bigger success than the immensely accomplished Dravid the cricketer.

Read also: Cricket Latest News: Hardik Pandya's Rs 5 crore watches held up at Mumbai airport

Dravid began his new innings as the Indian team's head coach in the ongoing series against New Zealand, they gave him 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

"He's a good man, a good cricketer. He will do a better job as a coach than as a cricketer because in cricket nobody has done better than him. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed," Kapil said.

Dravid earlier served as the head of National Cricket Academy and was also the coach of India's Under-19 and A teams, nurturing several young talents who went on to represent the country with distinction.

Kapil Dev Statement

Talking about Dravid as the chief coach, Kapil further said: "You can't just judge one after his debut, you don't go by one performance. Over a period of time, what Rahul will do, we will come to know. You only think positive."

The 62-year-old was here as the Board member of Professional Golf Tour of India that is conducting the ICC RCGC Open Golf Championship.

Asked about his favourite all-rounders, Kapil named Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.