“T20s are great, but real cricket still begins with Tests”: Kapil Dev sends strong message to Team India ahead of T20 World Cup

India’s dominance in T20 cricket may be turning heads across the world, but legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev believes the country cannot afford to lose sight of what truly defines a great cricketing nation — Test cricket. Speaking about the current direction of Indian cricket, Kapil acknowledged that India are among the most formidable teams in the shortest format. With explosive batters, deep bowling resources and a fearless brand of cricket, India have set the benchmark in T20s. However, he warned against allowing success in the format to overshadow the importance of the traditional game.

Kapil made it clear that while T20 cricket brings excitement, global attention and commercial growth, Test cricket remains the ultimate test of a player’s

skill, temperament and character. According to him, a team’s true strength is measured by how well it performs in five-day cricket, where patience, technique and mental toughness are constantly examined.

Also Read | Suryakumar Yadav Captaincy Records ahead of T20 World Cup

The former World Cup-winning captain also stressed that One-Day Internationals continue to hold relevance and should not be treated as a secondary format. He believes that a balanced approach across all three formats is essential for sustaining India’s reputation as a complete cricketing powerhouse.

Kapil’s remarks come at a time when India have enjoyed consistent success in white-ball cricket but faced mixed results in Test matches overseas. While the limited-overs teams have delivered trophies and strong performances, recent red-ball challenges have raised questions about long-term depth and adaptability.

For Kapil Dev, the message is simple yet powerful: embrace the evolution of the game, celebrate T20 success, but never forget the foundation on which Indian cricket was built. Without continued focus on Test cricket, he believes even the strongest teams risk losing their identity. As India prepare for a packed international calendar, Kapil’s words serve as a timely reminder — fast cricket may win applause, but it’s the long game that earns lasting respect.