Jacque Kallis was considered one of the best all-rounders in international cricket and in this way, it is not out of the question to ask him who he considers the better all-rounder between Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes.
Jacque Kallis was considered one of the best all-rounders in international cricket. Over his 18-year-long career, Kallis went on score 25,534 runs across all formats of the game and he also registered 55 scalps with the ball in hand.
In this way, it is not out of the question to ask him who he considers the better all-rounder between Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes.
In an interview with NDTV on the sidelines of Legends League Cricket, Kallis talked about being an all-rounder and the possibilities of India and South Africa at the upcoming T20 World Cup, in Australia.
“These two (Hardik Pandya and Ben Stokes) are world-class all-rounders. All-rounders are something you need to look after; they don’t come around often. I am sure both of them will play a big role in their respective teams. It will be a good battle between both of them,”
Kallis told NDTV.
India and South Africa are currently playing the three-match T20I series and both sides would look to use this series as a source of figuring out their best playing XI ahead of the T20 World Cup.
When asked about the chances of India and South Africa at the upcoming mega event, the 46-year-old said:
“I think both India and South Africa would be up there in terms of teams to watch out for in the T20 World Cup. It will be an important series in India now between these two teams even though the conditions would be different. I think these two teams would be up there, in World Cup, you need the luck to go your way and stuff like that. Hopefully, especially from South Africa’s point of view, it will be a good World Cup for us.”
Ahead of the series against South Africa, skipper Temba Bavuma went unsold in the auction for South Africa’s marquee T20 league, named ‘SAT20’. Kallis, however, thought that the entire team would lift Bavuma and his focus right now should be simply on the World Cup.
“I think the team will back him. The coach has come out saying they will back him. And it is a different competition, his focus should be entirely on the World Cup. The most important thing for him should be to focus on the World Cup,”
said Kallis.
Kallis, who is currently playing for Gujarat Giants in the Legends League Cricket, also talked about the experience of playing the tournament.
“It has been good fun. The guys have enjoyed catching up with each other, not surprised with how competitive it has been because the guys are naturally competitive,”
Kallis said.
“We always knew it would be competitive, the guys have enjoyed it. I think it is great, it shows that Legends League has something to offer. It will go from strength to strength,”
he added.
“People and players have enjoyed it, I think there is a bright future for it. I think I have always been someone who has looked after my body. That’s the reason I did not have many injuries throughout my career. I enjoy the fitness kind of things, it is just a natural thing for me,”
said Kallis.
“I think the lowest would be not winning a World Cup. The highest highs would be winning in England and Australia. That was the couple of highlights that stayed with me,”
he stated further.