Do not compare youngsters with the greats

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India start off a new season — at home — where they will always be firm favourites, in spite of what has happened in the last 18 months of Test cricket, both on and off the field.

At the Hyderabad Cricket Association Stadium today, we will witness a new look Indian Test team with the likes of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina and S. Badrinath. It will be the beginning of a new era in Indian cricket.
For the last 15 to 16 years, we have been used to Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Anil Kumble and myself, all of whom have gone on to play 100 Test matches, a very rare feat achieved by the members of an Indian team, playing around at the same time.
It is the beginning of a transition which we have been talking about over a period of time and it will be very interesting. Cricket is massive in this part of the world and the youngsters along with the Grand Old Man of Indian cricket will have a huge role in taking the Test team ahead.
The young guns are lucky to have the great Tendulkar in the dressing room, who will pass on his valuable experience at the very important phase of their careers. We have seen young Virat set the world stage on fire and he will also be an inspiration to other young batsmen, who are trying to establish themselves in the highest — and best — form of the game.
All these players have played one-day cricket at various times of their lives, but this is what they will all be looking forward to. They are on the same platform and hence the competition will be healthy and great to watch.
It is also very important not to compare the youngsters with the greats and allow them to settle down. The Dravids and the Laxmans did not reach where they were overnight and the current crop will take time to settle it.
It’s crucial for the players to be clear in their minds and concentrate on making runs without worrying about who they are replacing. They have a relatively weak side to start with in the Kiwis and it will be the right start to a long season.
(360 Corporate Relations)