WI vs IND: Ravindra Jadeja hits back at Kapil Dev’s claim of Indian players becoming arrogant

By India Today Sports Desk: Star India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has dismissed Kapil Dev’s claim that current Indian players are arrogant due to money and the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that these accusations only arise when India lose. Jadeja believes players are dedicated and focused on representing their country.

Kapil Dev, in a recent interview with The Week magazine, stated that the current crop of Indian cricketers appear to be arrogant because they are earning a lot of money, adding that they appear to think they know everything. Kapil Dev’s comments came after former India opener Sunil Gavaskar told an Indian daily that players like VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid would come to him for advice when they were out of form in international cricket. But now no one comes.

“I didn’t know when he said this. I don’t search too many things on social media. Everyone has their own opinion. It’s nothing like that. Everybody is enjoying their game and working hard. Players are not taking their place in the team for granted. Whenever they are getting chances, they are giving their 100 percent and trying to win games for India,” Jadeja said when he was asked about Kapil’s remarks during a press conference.

Notably, West Indies defeated India by six wickets in the second One-Day International (ODI) in Barbados to level the series 1-1. However, Jadeja, 24, believes that ex-players have the right to express themselves.

“Such questions crop up when India loses a game. Nobody is arrogant. Everybody is representing India. We are working hard and playing for the country. There is no personal agenda,” Jadeja added.

Earlier in the series, Jadeja went past Kapil Dev’s record to become India’s highest wicket-taker against West Indies in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the series opener in Barbados.

The final ODI of the three-match series will be played on August 1 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.