Thaindian News

Kolkata, Sep 22 (IANS) Former captain Sourav Ganguly said Thursday the Indian team needs to find a bowler of the calibre of Zaheer Khan to stop relying too much on the ageing warhorse.

“India needs to learn living life without Zaheer Khan. If he gets sidelined due to an injury, the rest of the bowling unit must have the ability to take the 20 wickets which unfortunately was no so in England. So we need more bowlers of his calibre,” said Ganguly at a product launch here.

Ganguly was all praise for the left arm pacer and hoped he will make a comeback sooner than later. Khan has been nursing injuries after playing in the initial stages of the recently concluded India’s tour to England.

In the wake of too many breakdowns of Indian players in the recently concluded India England series. Ganguly said there was need for an injury management system.

“There needs to be a proper injury management. There have been too many injuries which hampered the performance of the team. More than the injury what is important is their timely return. Players should not be rushed back into the game unless and until they are match-fit.”

The real test of the Indian team would be in Australia where the team heads for a long tour in December, feels the former skipper.

“For me the real test of the Indian side will be the Test series against Australia. We did not play well in England but we have to play well in Australia. otherwise all the work that has been done over 11 years to make it a better side overseas, will be lost.”

Ganguly felt batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar would get his 100th international century sooner than later. “It’s just a matter of time before he gets it. If he is good enough to get to 99 he is good enough to get to 100.”

Tendulkar, with 51 Test centuries and 48 ODI hundreds, needs one more to complete a century of tons.

Ganguly was also all praise for star off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. “He has already taken 400 wickets and is just 31-32 (years old). I am sure he will take many more wickets.”