Kolkata:A dead bat is not typically associated with Kapil Dev, yet at Tollygunge Club on Friday, he addressed most inquiries regarding Jasprit Bumrah and the Champions Trophy in a manner reminiscent of that term. The former captain of India’s inaugural cricket World Cup-winning team was present in his capacity as president of the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI).

Since assuming his role last June, Dev has made a significant impact. Under his leadership, the prize money for the tour has risen by ₹4.5 crore in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Yuvraj Sandhu, who achieved a score of 20-under 260 and received a winner’s cheque of ₹15 lakh at the PGTI Players Championship, expressed gratitude to “paaji” for raising the season-opener prize to ₹1 crore, recalling a time when the total prize was merely ₹30 lakh.

For the first time, a tournament will be held in Chhattisgarh, which Dev highlighted when discussing how the tour can support young Indian players. “We are striving to provide them with more opportunities,” he stated. The PGTI has expanded the number of tournaments from nine last year to eleven in the first half of its current calendar.

In a similar context, Dev commented on LIV Golf, noting, “Cricket has gained from the IPL. Observe the confidence of young Indian cricketers now. Thus, the more tournaments available, the better it is for the players.”

In the same month that LIV Golf's International Series made a successful debut in India featuring US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Dev chose not to disclose whether the PGTI would seek a partnership with the breakaway tour.

During an afternoon at Tolly, where his past was a frequent topic of discussion, Dev remarked that while playing cricket for "10 months" contributes to player fatigue, there was little value in discussing Bumrah's inability to recover in time for the Champions Trophy. "Why focus on someone who is unavailable? This is not an individual sport. If we perform well as a team, victory is certainly within our reach."

Read Also: Arshdeep Cautions Rivals: Champions Trophy Will Be a Tough Challenge

"Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!"