New Delhi

Speaking at ‘Champions of Aakash 2022’ organised by Aakash Byju’s, Kapil Dev, a legendary cricketer, sparked a debate by rejecting complaints of ‘depression’ and mental pressure’ as an escapist culture. Last few years have witnessed a surge in mental health awareness. People from distinct walks of life, including cricket, have come out with their experiences of depression. Cricketers, most recently Virat Kohli, have pointed out that enormous pressure of fast paced T20 culture is resulting in mental pressure leading to depression.

In a 140 seconds video shared by @Aces_sports, Kapil Dev has rejected these complaints saying that if one feels pressure instead of pleasure in playing they should stop playing. He said, “I had a passion to play, that was the difference”. Comparing the education system of his times, he asked the students how they can feel pressure studying in AC classrooms, where fees are being paid by the parents and teachers cannot use corporal punishments unlike in his school days. He said, “Pressure is a very wrong word. When you are in love it’s not a pressure and I love my game so it cannot be pressure.”

The video instantly went viral and divided the twitterati into two opposite camps.

Nailed it 👏🏽👏🏽 @therealkapildev pic.twitter.com/Wbs86nyEQh

— Aces Middle East (@Aces_sports) October 8, 2022

Dr. Amit Parmar, an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, commented, “No wonder people don't talk about their mental health in India!”

A Twitter user with almost 3.5 lakh followers, Keh Ke Peheno, praised and commented, “Well said!

It's the generational change. Newer generations are always born with a lot more privilege than the earlier generations. Born into more affluence means getting things way too easily & thus spoilt. They create superficial struggle, and hence leftist liberal woke activism”

Cricket writer, Sandipan Banerjee, pointed out that this was being shared a day before World Mental Health Day. He writes, “So, a legend of his stature believes mental health issues do not exist or there is nothing called depression.

Well, I am simply speechless.

Tomorro, October 10) will be the World Mental Health Day BTW”

Cricket writer and analyst, Abhishek Mukherjee, wondered why a lagened like Kapil would say this about mental health.

Sports journalist and commentator, Pradeep Krishna was more critical of Kapil and wrote, “Blamed Kohli for returning to IND for the birth of his child during AUS tour. Now this!

What's worse is a star like Saina Nehwal who went through everything in her career is laughing just because it was Kapil.

That iconic dialogue by Harvey Dent suits every single IND Cricketer!”

Tamil Social media influencer RVAIDYA2000 believes that Kapil was correct in pointing out depression as cultural invasion from America.