Pandya needs to deliver in bowling too: Kapil

New Delhi (PTI): Kapil Dev wants Hardik Pandya to be better than him but Wednesday said the flamboyant cricketer needs to improve his bowling to become a complete all-rounder like the legend was in his heydays.

Pandya has grown rapidly as an international cricketer since making his India debut in January 2016. He has played many memorable knocks with the bat but his bowling figures pale in comparison. "Lets not compare, let him play. We have already seen his rich talent and I want him to be better than me. He is an all-rounder, he has to perform in both the departments. Yes, he is a batting all-rounder I can feel that, so I hope he can improve in his bowling.

He is a great team man and that is more important," Kapil said in his response to a PTI query.

Pandya averages 30.53 in 47 ODIs with the bat and he also has a Test hundred. His bowling average of 41.97 in ODIs is on the higher side with 44 wickets to his name while he has taken 17 wickets in 11 Tests at 31.05. His rapid rise led to comparisons with Kapil, something Pandya himself did not appreciate, saying 'let me be myself'.