Laxman: 'India can be the best Test team for a very long time'

India's long home season begins at Kanpur against New Zealand, where the side is seeking to become the World No. 1 team in Test cricket and Laxman felt achieving the No. 1 status will just be the beginning of a long journey.

Published : Sep 19, 2016 19:07 IST , New Delhi

V. V. S. Laxman felt that the Indian team has started peaking at the right time in its quest to be the world's best.
V. V. S. Laxman felt that the Indian team has started peaking at the right time in its quest to be the world's best.
lightbox-info

V. V. S. Laxman felt that the Indian team has started peaking at the right time in its quest to be the world's best.

There was optimism mingled with conviction in V. V. S. Laxman's tone and tenor as the batting great on Monday predicted the start of an era of prolonged dominance by the current Indian Test team, akin to the great West Indian and Australian sides of the past.

India's long home season begins at Kanpur against New Zealand, where the side is seeking to become the World No. 1 team in Test cricket and Laxman felt achieving the No. 1 status will just be the beginning of a long journey.

"It's a great opportunity for India because they are going to play three quality Test playing countries. This India team has the potential to be the No. 1 and they can be the best Test playing nation for a very long time," Laxman said.

> Laxman: 'Day-night Tests a work in progress'

"The reason for that is everyone is young in their Test careers and also they have played a lot in overseas conditions. From personal experience I have seen that once you play overseas you become an allround player because you get to play in different types of wickets, different weather conditions, different kinds of oppositions who are very good in their own backyard.

"So I think they are well rounded cricketers now and playing in India they know what kind of conditions to expect, it gives the team the right kind of platform to showcase its talent, play to their potential and once they do that they will start dominating Test cricket for a long time," Laxman said.

Laxman felt that the team has started peaking at the right time in its quest to be the world's best.

"All of tem are peaking at the right time, all of them are just about three or four years into their Test careers and all of them are young and fit and very talented. This team has got the talent, the all round experience by touring all over the world and playing in different conditions. They have got great skill sets — be it in batting, fielding, spin bowling or fast bowling department."

He felt India should go with five bowlers in the first Test at Kanpur , and picked Murali Vijay and K. L. Rahul as the team's opening combination, with Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 3 after his impressive run of scores in the Duleep Trophy.

Laxman is impressed with the opening combination of Rahul and Murali Vijay.

"Healthy competition really impressed me. KL Rahul was ideally suited for Test cricket but the way he has improved his skill sets in other formats it shows that he is very hard working, very matured, introspecting and wanting to improve his game, hope he gets a long run in the playing XI," he said.

Kohli the "trendsetter"

While he was lavish in his praise for Kohli, Laxman felt that the skipper is fortunate to have the right kind of players in his arsenal.

"I think Virat Kohli is very fortunate to have players from which he can chose depending on the playing conditions. They have really impressed not ony in Indian conditions, but all over the world and all of them have great work ethic.

"Kohil is an inspiration, a trendsetter for me as he inspires his colleagues to raise the benchmark. He is always looking for wins. He is flexible and has conveyed the message that he is here to win."

On Kumble the coach

Asked about coach Anil Kumble, he said, "Anil is one of the most hard working cricketers I have come across and I am sure he will instill the same as a coach as well and it started off well in the West Indies. I believe that Virat and Anil will continue in same vein."

He was also fulsome in his praise for the way M. S. Dhoni managed the transitional phase after the departure of legends in hordes.

"Dhoni has to be really credited for the way he managed the transitional phase, the way he helped in transition and also the selection committee for reposing faith and identifying the players. It was tough for them because at the start of their careers they played a lot in overseas alien condition which is always a challenge for any cricketer, but still they have adapted," Laxman said.

"Results may not have gone their way but still I felt they had opportunities to win a match or series. There were some brilliant individual performances. Dhoni has to be credited for that and all the young players, who grabbed their opportunities and showed to all of us they belong to international cricket, also deserve kudos."

About Rohit Sharma , he said, "He is capable of being a match winner in Test cricket, it's just about getting his game plan right."

Talking about vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane , Laxman said, "Rahane is a role model for first class cricketers because he has come through the grind of first class cricket. He has got a great technique and temperament and, above all, is a great teamman. He is one of the best."

Laxman called Wriddhiman Saha the country's best glovesman at the moment. "Since Dhoni left Test cricket Saha has been the best keeper, he is a gritty character, very determined and is the best glovesman we have at the moment. If he can start contributing with the bat the way he batted in the West Indies it will be great for Indian cricket and himself," he said.

Asked about off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin , Laxman said, "He is the most valuable player, he is a spinner but technically and mentally equipped to play as a batsman."

He also congratulated the BCCI for arranging 13 Test matches in the home season.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment