NEW DELHI: Legendary Kapil Dev has always been a passionate advocate for sports, and over the years, golf has become one of his closest companions.
Reflecting on his love story with golf, Kapil, replying to a question raised by TimesofIndia.com, candidly shared that had he played golf alongside cricket, he believes it would have sharpened his focus, potentially adding 2,000 more runs to his cricketing tally.”If you play golf, you understand,” Kapil remarked at the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open on Monday afternoon. “I thought cricketers were mad. In the evening, they only talk about cricketers. A golfer is a thousand times madder than a cricketer. They lie in bed at night thinking, ‘I should have played that shot better, I missed that putt.'”
Kapil’s comparison between golf and cricket shines a light on the mental focus required for both sports. He explained that while golf may seem easier when you step onto the course, it can often lead to surprising results.
“That’s the beauty of this game – even when you’re sleeping, you’re thinking, ‘If only that putt had gone in, it would have been so much fun.’ I think it’s really fascinating. When you first step onto a golf course, you feel like you’ll play 10-12 under par, but when you finish, you’re usually 10-12 over par. The mind is sharp, but the body doesn’t always respond the same way,” he shared with a laugh.
Opening up about how golf could have influenced his cricketing career, Kapil said, “I am not saying that I have played cricket to the highest level. But I wish I’d played golf while playing cricket. I would’ve 2000 runs extra in cricket because this game will teach you how to concentrate so hard for every ball.”
Kapil’s remarks come at a time when he is not only sharing his love for golf but also actively promoting the sport in India.
As the president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI), he announced the launch of the Vishwa Samudra Open, which will take place at the Delhi Golf Club from December 10-13, 2024, with a prize purse of INR 2 crore.
On the field of cricket, Kapil Dev boasts a remarkable career, having played 131 Tests and 225 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India between 1978 and 1994. With 5,248 runs in Tests, 434 wickets, and 3,783 runs in ODIs, he is considered one of cricket’s finest all-rounders.
Most notably, Kapil led India to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1983, a historic moment that changed the trajectory of Indian cricket forever.
