How Ganguly, Tendulkar and Laxman can help build the Kohli-led budding Indian Test side

Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman have joined the BCCI’s advisory committee. Nishad Pai Vaidya writes that the trio can help India build the side in Test cricket, where they step into a new era under a young captain.

Since July 2011, India have won the solitary game and lost 15 out of the 21 Tests played overseas. This was quite an alarming slump for a team that prided itself for being competent travellers in the 2000s. Numerous issues plagued India through this phase. Firstly, the famed senior men were on the wane and later, the transition pangs were felt as a young team tried to take the unit forward.

Through that, skipper MS Dhoni’s role was under scrutiny as many felt he wasn’t the same attacking captain in the longest format. With him out of Test cricket, India have a young unit that has to shoulder quite a bit of pressure.

In this scenario, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has done well to employ the services of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman. India’s long drawn transition phase needs a finishing touch and who better for the job than the men who have been there and done that.

When India were a force overseas in the 2000s, the trio formed the backbone of the side along with Rahul Dravid. With their expertise coming in, the management can draw a roadmap to success.

In Virat Kohli, India have a new Test captain, who will gradually learn the ropes of leading the side in the white flannels. The presence of Ganguly, watching every move, will help as the former Indian skipper was in a similar position in 2000, when he took over captaincy.

Of course, he already had established stars in Tendulkar and Dravid. Kohli has some talented young men at his disposal, who are about the same age as Tendulkar and Dravid were back in 2000.

Ganguly and Kohli seem to be of a similar personality type, although the latter is easily the more expressive of the two. Ganguly can be someone who could groom leaders in the team and help them chart out progress. In a recent interview with The Cricket Monthly, Kohli has already highlighted his vision for the future. Along with Ganguly, he can give the vision a better shape.

Tendulkar has been a teammate for almost all the members of the current Test side. He may not have excelled as a leader in his playing days, but was always around as a mentor and a senior figure in the dressing room. From being someone who can help the players with their technique to one who can motivate, Tendulkar’s mere presence is a big boost for a lot of the players.

His technical knowledge and methods to work on individual games would be crucial for India.

Then there is a Laxman, who has shown great character through his career. In tricky conditions, he was often India’s best batsman, outperforming the other stalwarts. With the team in need, Laxman was the best bet in the middle order and would also be asked to bat at No. 3 on the odd occasion. He could form a crucial component for India’s plans overseas with all his experience.

Perhaps, he could be one man who could travel with the team, offering his assistance in the nets.

So far, the BCCI has not made it clear as to what exactly their roles would entail. However, media reports do indicate that the management is keen to take India forward in Test cricket and improve performances overseas. As far as one-day cricket is concerned, India need not worry. However, the Test side needs urgent attention as there is a young bunch of players, led by a youthful captain.

Meanwhile, there is a word that Rahul Dravid may work with the junior sides. Things will be clearer in the coming days.

(Nishad Pai Vaidya is a Mumbai-based cricket journalist and one of the youngest to cover the three major cricketing events — ICC World Cup, World T20 and under-19 World Cup. He tweets as @nishad_45)