Kapil Dev feels Virat Kohli’s admission of his team not being brave enough in the T20 World Cup loss to New Zealand is a “very weak statement”. The legendary all-rounder also urged head coach Ravi Shastri as well as team mentor Mahendra Singh Dhoni to step up and lift the morale of the players.

The 62-year-old former India captain reminded the big names in the batting order to take responsibility for what has transpired in the UAE.

“Obviously, it’s a very weak statement from a player as big as Virat Kohli. We all know and we believe that he has the hunger and desire to win games for the team,” Kapil told ABP News.

“But if the body language of the team and thought process of the captain is like this, it’s very difficult to lift the mood of the players in the dressing room. I would urge my friend Shastri and Dhoni to lift the team in this scenario. It is Dhoni’s job to talk to the players and give them confidence,” Kapil added.

India now need to win big in all their remaining three Super 12 matches and hope for Afghanistan to upstage New Zealand for any chance of qualification. Kapil, though, said depending on the outcome of other teams’ matches is never a great situation to be in.

Ravi Shastri

“If we have to go through based on somebody else’s performance, then I don’t like it. If you have to be in the semi-finals, do it on your own merit. I don’t think it is a good idea to place your hopes on anyone else,” he said.

“Jab aap accha karte ho, hum sab tareef karte hain (We all praise you when you all do well). But as far as some of the big names are concerned, the selectors will now have to take a hard look at them and take a call on whether the better performing youngsters should be considered,” Kapil, not known to mince his words, said.

Still winless in the competition, India are back in action on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi when they take on a confident Afghanistan who have won two out of their three matches so far.