Kapil Dev weighs in: Could 1983 World Cup heroes beat India’s 2025 Asia Cup T20 champions?

After their unbeaten triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, India has firmly established itself as a nearly unstoppable force in T20 cricket. Riding on that momentum, the team went on to win the 2025 Asia Cup without losing a single match, continuing their dominant run in international cricket.

In their last 12 matches across these tournaments, India emerged victorious in 11 encounters, with only one game ending without a result due to uncontrollable circumstances. Such a record has made the current Indian side a benchmark for excellence in the shortest format of the game.

During a TV interview on ‘Sports Today’, veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai couldn’t resist posing a playful yet intriguing question to India’s first-ever World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev—for the third time. He asked hypothetically whether the legendary 1983 World Cup champions could have taken on and beaten India’s formidable 2025 Asia Cup-winning team in a T20 clash.

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Rajdeep Sardesai’s Intriguing Question to India’s First-Ever World Cup-Winning Captain:

Kapil Dev showcased the sharp and strategic mindset that had steered India to their historic 1983 World Cup victory against the West Indies, demonstrating the same clarity and insight that made him a legendary leader in cricket. He said, “ Very difficult to say. They can outbeat us because they know how to play T20. We didn’t know. Even 10 years back people didn’t know how to play (this brand of) T20.”

He further said, “ Now 150 mile (kph) ball is coming, and they (Indian batters) are sweeping as if they are playing an off spinner or leg spinner. You can’t compare two eras. But I’d say they are far better. Unbelievable. They are far better than what our team (India T20 side) was even five years ago.”

When Sardesai teased him about fitting seamlessly into any modern T20 team, Kapil replied with characteristic wit and confidence, reflecting his timeless cricketing sense and the strategic acumen that defined his leadership on the field. He added, “ I’m not playing now. What difference does it make today?”

Kapil Dev Talks About Which Player Impressed Him:

When questioned about Indian players who had caught his eye, Kapil wisely observed that it would take a few more years before he could label Abhishek Sharma—or any young batsman—a true star, even after their initial few seasons.

He said, “ Most players did their job well. Abhishek has become a household name. But give this young boy couple of years, opposition will start understanding his way of playing. Any new bowler comes out like Bumrah, he has to tackle other people. Or Malinga. Any new player, first season is very good, second season also. By third season if they are playing well, you will say ‘Yes! I think he has special talent.”

Kapil shared with ‘Sports Today’ that Tilak Varma had genuinely impressed him, particularly for his calm and composed temperament on the field, highlighting the young player’s maturity beyond his years in handling pressure situations.

He further said, “ But what Tilak played yesterday, was fabulous. Maturity was unparalleled. These boys know how to win matches. They don’t get into panic mode where they start going wild. They know they can get 30 plus in last 3 overs. They will get it easy. Not even once I got the impression that they are shaken up or (needed to worry about) what will happen.”

Kapil Dev expressed that Pakistan cricket was past its peak and had experienced stronger, more competitive periods in earlier years. He said, “ Pakistan don’t have similar talent like what they used to have in 80s or 90s or before that. Pakistan have given the world the best cricketers – Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis. But unfortunately, we can’t see even 1 percent of that talent of what they used to have.”