Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Former cricketers rate India side among the best

Former India cricketers were all praise for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side for winning the Test series in New Zealand and rate the present side as one of the country's best ever.
India dominated the three-match series, though they won 1-0. They won the first Test at Hamilton by 10 wickets and should have made it 2-0 if only the elements had not come in the way in the third at Wellington Tuesday.
It was India's first series win in New Zealand since the 3-1 victory under Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in 1968.
'This team is much better than ours. I think, it is one of India's best ever sides,' Pataudi said.
'They were impressive throughout the series and they have played consistently over the past few years at home and abroad and in all forms of the game. This side will enjoy more success,' he said.
India came back strongly on the tour to New Zealand after losing both the Twenty20 matches. They then won the ODI series 3-1 and the Test series.
The New Zealand Test series win comes close on the heels of their splendid performance in the last three series which they won on the trot, against the world champions Australia and England. India have won six of their last nine Test series.
'The team has performed exceptionally well in the last couple of years. This victory will give them more confidence. Gautam Gambhir has been a revelation in all formats of the game,' said former Test star Gundappa Vishwanath.
He said that senior batsmen - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman - have maintained their great form.
'The bowling has acquired greater teeth in recent times and Zaheer Khan is easily the world's best left-arm seamer. Harbhajan Singh has done well to step into Anil Kumble's shoes,' said Viswanath.

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