Kapil urges budding talents to fill up the shoes of their seniors

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev on Tuesday urged budding cricketing talents to make the best of the opportunities available to them and to contribute to the formation of a quality national side.

Bangalore, May 1 : Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev on Tuesday urged budding cricketing talents to make the best of the opportunities available to them and to contribute to the formation of a quality national side.

Addressing trainees at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, Kapil asked the budding talents to fill up the vacuum that has developed in the wake of the World Cup defeat.

"This is the time when you can make your career. You just have to be that much more serious. Everybody knows we really had a tough time in the World Cup because of our own weakness. We did not play up to our standard what we set for ourselves. So, I think, we as former cricketers look up to you people, you young boys when you can come out to become a player of that magnitude who can pick up and win the cup," he said.

The former captain also promised to bring the senior players to the academy for tips on what was needed to play international cricket.

"Players like Sachin (Tendulkar), Sourav (Ganguly), Harbhajan (Singh), (Irfan) Pathan, Mohammad Kaif, they might be here. We will request the board (BCCI), if they are free, they will come and play with you, train with you. I think those are the people you look up to more than anybody else. We understand your point of view. We will try to give you. What we require from you is total discipline, dedication and application to become a better player tomorrow," Kapil added.

India was knocked out of the 2007 World Cup in the very first round after being defeated by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, prompting several former players and fans to call for large-scale changes to the team.

Selectors have picked some youngsters for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh, and rested senior players like Tendulkar and Ganguly for the one-day series. However, the two players are in the Test squad.

The team leaves for Bangladesh on May 7 after a five-day preparatory camp in Kolkata.

ANI