Kapil Dev wants BCCI to force every top Indian cricketer into multi-day domestic cricket, calling it the missing piece in India’s Test preparation against spin. Speaking at the Bangalore Blasters launch for the inaugural JITO Premier League on August 12, the former India captain said the board needs to stop letting established players skip multi-day matches.
“Playing domestic cricket is very important. The reason why Indian teams struggle against spin is that the top players don’t play enough domestic cricket. That’s where the BCCI should put its foot down and make everyone play multi-day matches. The other aspect is that the younger generation will get to learn from the top players.”
Kapil Dev, JITO Premier League launch, August 12, 2026
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The timing is pointed. India have lost five home Tests in seven matches since October 2024, including a 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand and a 0-2 sweep by South Africa. Batters averaged 13.25 against spin at Eden Gardens during the South Africa series. The first Test against Sri Lanka begins on August 15 in Galle, where the pitch turns sharply from day two. Thirteen players are recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, including Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Washington Sundar. India’s preparation for a spin-heavy series in Sri Lanka is happening under strain.
Why BCCI’s Domestic Cricket Mandate Has Not Been Enough
Kapil Dev is not raising this issue for the first time. In March 2024, he backed BCCI’s decision to strip Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer of their central contracts for skipping the Ranji Trophy. In early 2025, he questioned Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for returning to domestic cricket after gaps of over a decade. Kohli played one Ranji match for Delhi, scored six runs, and went straight back to international duty.
BCCI mandated domestic participation after India’s disastrous 2024-25 season. But a single Ranji appearance every few years is not what Kapil means by playing domestic cricket. His demand now, that BCCI should “put its foot down,” is a direct acknowledgement that the existing rule has not changed player behaviour.
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Batting against spin on day three or four of a Ranji match, when the surface has cracked and started turning unevenly, is the closest any batter gets to simulating a day four or five Test pitch. No net session recreates that. The variable bounce forces batters to adjust their stance, play the ball later, and commit to footwork patterns over hours rather than a few overs. When Indian batters face quality spin in Tests and collapse chasing modest fourth-innings targets, the missing element is not talent. It is match time on worn surfaces, and that only exists in multi-day domestic cricket.
“In recent times, India has not been the best against spin bowling. They play too many T20Is and ODIs. Test matches are a different ball game. I hope they can put their heads together.”
Kapil Dev, JITO Premier League launch, August 12, 2026
India face two Tests on spin-heavy surfaces in Sri Lanka with several first-choice players unavailable. India sit fifth in the WTC standings and need to win seven of their next nine Tests to stay in the race for the final. Whether they solve their spin problem in Galle or not, Kapil Dev’s argument remains the same: the solution does not start on tour. It starts in domestic cricket.
Sources:
Kapil Dev, JITO Premier League Bangalore Blasters launch, August 12, 2026 (ANI)
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