‘Big 3 should go one at a time’

Calcutta: Sourav Ganguly has cautioned Indian selectors about an Australia-like crisis when the “big three” of Indian cricket decide to call it quits.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the Indian Statistical Institute, on Saturday, the former India captain beseeched the selectors to ensure that the trio of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid don’t retire together.

“The selectors have to make sure that the big three (Sachin, Dravid and Laxman) don’t retire together. It will leave a lot of void. Look at the Australians… Around the same time (Matthew) Hayden, (Justine) Langer, (Adam) Gilchrist, (Shane) Warne and (Glenn) McGrath retired.

“There was too much of a void to fill so quickly. So, the selectors have to be careful to ensure that they go one at a time… So that you get the replacements and get them ready,” Sourav said.

The former India captain felt the replacements should be allowed to settle in home conditions first, than being bloodied overseas.

“It’s important to get the replacements in a home series so that when they go on an overseas tour they get the runs and are confident. You saw Cheteshwar Pujara in South Africa… He struggled a bit but adjusted to the conditions very well,” he said.

Sourav felt it would be a test for India in absence of the senior players. “We’ll have to wait for the big three to retire,” he said adding, “two out of the three are playing very well. The third one should play well too.” The southpaw, however, didn’t say whom his words were meant for.

Speaking on the topic of “expectations from future leaders”, Sourav reminisced how he felt when he was handed the Indian captaincy. “I was just 26 when I became the Indian captain. It was bit of a surprise for me… I didn’t know what to say in the first team meeting. There were cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Mohammed Azharuddin… How can I tell them what to do?”

Recollecting how he felt on being dropped after the Greg Chappell row, Sourav said: “I think I was the only captain to be left out after a series win.

“I felt I was good enough and wanted to play. I was sad and depressed… I spoke to my dad, who is an ardent cricket fan. He said ‘it’s enough, you have played 400 matches and captained for six years…’

“I never did politics. I would not have been here if I did politics. With my practical experiences I say whatever you do, you will not be at the top all the time. So when you are at the top, be transparent.”