Hardik has talent, need to put his mind in right track: Kapil

Former India captain Kapil Dev on Monday advised promising all-rounder Hardik Pandya to put his mind in the right direction if he has to excel in cricket's longest format.

After an impressive show in the limited overs formats, Pandya earned his maiden call-up to the Test side, and is in line to make his debut in the five-match Test rubber against England, starting at Rajkot on Wednesday.

His Test call-up is a clear indication to him that the selectors have considered him for the role of a seaming all-rounder, who can turn a match around in the same way as Kapil used to.

National selector M.S.K Prasad also asserted that India has been in a quest to find someone, who can take Kapil's place since the legendary all-rounder's retirement in 1994.

"I think he should be better than be, why only me. The next generation have to be better than the previous one, he has all the ability and talent, he just has to put his mind. If you ask, does he have the ability, I think he has," Kapil told IANS here.

All eyes will be on the controversial Decision Review System (DRS), which a reluctant Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finally agreed to use during the series on a trial basis.

Kapil, who retired from Test cricket with 434 wickets also backed the decision saying it will not affect the mentality of the bowlers as it's just another rule in the dictionary.

"It's just another rule, I think bowlers will not get affected by it and its good to have," Kapil, who led India to their first World Cup win 33 years ago, said.

In their 2012-13 tour, England spinners spun a web around the hosts to take the series 2-1. Asked on the possible spin combination with premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin during the upcoming series, Kapil said: "It all depends on the wicket, if both can play its good. The main thing is to look at the wicket before taking a call on the possible combination".

(Gaurav Sharma can be contacted at gaurav.sharma@ians.in)

--IANS

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