A schoolboy who started playing cricket so that he could stay away from class and would slip in a pair of white shorts in his schoolbag to escape his parents’ notice went on to lead India to its first World Cup victory.

Former India captain Kapil Dev spoke to students of The BSS School about the importance of spending a few hours on the playground every day and more at the inauguration of a 4,640sq ft sports arena on Monday.

Winning the World Cup

We were zapped. We didn’t realise what it does…. We were in that motion, we were playing. But now after so many years when you get love and affection and respect you feel you have done something great.

How he started playing cricket

I was a sportsman. Cricket I played, don’t take me wrong, as I didn’t want to study. I have to be honest.... Football is an hour and a half. Cricket three days. I said I would be outside class for three days. I used to say ‘let’s play cricket and these three days teacher will not give me’ (he gestures thrashing with his hand).

… but the seniors started saying ‘this boy has talent’. I thought they are joking with me. But they said ‘no, no this boy has talent’. When I realised myself I have talent, that’s the day I started working. After that I never looked back. My aim then was… to play… to play for my country. That aim became bigger because sometimes you don’t know your own strengths. The time you come to know your strength you should work hard.

From the 11th batsman to the all-rounder

When I played my first-class match (debut) I batted at No. 11. I don’t know how much you follow cricket. I also don’t follow too much now (laughs). She (referring to a student) said ‘I don’t follow’, I also don’t.

Last batsman I was. But one thing was in every match I got to bat. When you get to bat and perform, your number will scale up and up and up. That’s what happened. I batted at No. 11, I batted at No. 10, then came to 9 because your performance will speak and the team will start recognising your performance and they start bringing your number up. So one day they recognised I can bat also, not only bowl, and that’s the time I became an all-rounder.

Talk to parents

Parents and kids today are much more friendly. When I was growing up, no way I could even raise my voice in front of my father. My mom would make us sit down to study in the name of our father… but dad was simple, no problem at all.

I think you kids need to understand. Sit with your parents, love them and try to convince them. Tell your mother you don’t want to become a doctor but an engineer because that is your passion. Only way you can do it is by talking to your parents. Parents are the only (ones) who want betterment for you. Not your neighbours. It’s important to walk with your parents. Even if it takes a lifetime. But convince them. If my parents were alive today and if I was to become what they had wanted me to be I would not have been standing here. They had wanted me to get a job in a bank or the railways. But I didn’t want to do that. Later on, they told me do something in life. So I convinced my parents slowly. It took me so much time. I used to go to the cricket match and in my schoolbag I used to hide white shorts so that my mother and father didn’t know I was going to play. I had a passion and they realised one day. Your parents are not fools… they understand. They have gone through this age so they understand.

Technology and cellphones

It’s fun. New technology brings excitement. Basically you should not forget that it’s fun to play the game on computer but physical strength is the most important strength and that requires a few hours on the playground. I am not saying don’t use new technology. Use your brain and use your body to give you more strength in life for the future.…. You must study everything and then pick up your passion and then you can be an expert in whichever department you want to be. But use the technology there in your brain, that’s bigger technology.

Overcoming fears

Only sports teaches you victory and loss. Negative thoughts only come when you are not 100 per cent prepared. When you are 100 per cent prepared and still somebody is better than you, respect that. Did you play to the best of your abilities? That is important. Did you perform to the best of your talent? People can be better than you but did you feel that I did my best.

Signing an autograph

Will you promise me something? (Chorus of yes from students). I will never take an autograph. (The children stop repeating). No you promised me. All the teachers remember they promised me. I will never take an autograph… but I will always give autograph.

Giving is more fun than taking. Believe me. Trust me. When you give an autograph it is more fun than taking. Will you do that? For that you have to work very hard. For that you have to discipline yourself. You have to be dedicated. And you have to have an aim. The biggest thing in life is passion. You should have a passion. Whatever you want to do…

Second thing I tell the students don’t try to copy anybody. A duplicate cannot be better than the original. Try to be original. Try to be best in whatever you want to do.