Sourav defends selection of spin veterans Harbhajan, Mishra

Dhoni is leading India in the ODIs and T20s.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is eager to see how the national team performs in different formats with two set of skippers in Virat Kohli (Tests) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (ODIs and T20s).
Dhoni retired from Test cricket at the end of 2014 during the tour of Australia. Kohli was appointed captain in the longest format while Dhoni held on to his position in limited overs cricket. "For this two-captain theory, India have never had that and obviously it has happened due to the retirement of MS (Dhoni) from Test matches. But other teams in the world have had it, like Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka. If you win it works, if you don't win it doesn't work," Ganguly said during a promotional event on Tuesday.
Ganguly also defended India's spin veterans Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra after critics panned the selectors' move to pick the experienced duo for Test series in Sri Lanka due to lack of young talent.
"I don't see a problem between experienced and non-experienced, it's about how good the person is. You only gain experience when you play," Ganguly said. "I have lot of faith in Harbhajan, in (Ravichandran) Ashwin and Amit Mishra. Pragyan Ojha is another good left-arm spinner, I think he picked five wickets against Australia A. I think they will do well in sub-continent conditions in places like Sri Lanka and India, where the ball spins.
"The biggest test for all spinners has been to bowl in England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. That's an area where they can get better," Ganguly added.
Now a cricket analyst, Ganguly is also keenly following the Ashes, which is tied 1-1, and backs Australia in the remaining three Tests.
"I am backing Australia. I was little surprised to see Australia losing in Cardiff. It was familiar to the way they won at Lord's and I think in the next three Test matches Australia are ahead," he said.
Meanwhile, Ganguly asserted that there was no reason to fear signing the 'conflict of agreement' understanding. He said that the BCCI's move to make cricket a clean affair should be taken in the right spirit.
After former president N. Srinivasan was allowed to buy an IPL franchisee and later became a controversy, the new BCCI regime is taking all necessary steps to improve its image. Ganguly, who was named in the BCCI advisory committee alongwith Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, has backed BCCI in its clean-up act. "They (BCCI) have extended to everyone who is associated with cricket and I don't see a problem with it because it is just a declaration that you give to the board," Ganguly said. "I really don't keep a track as to who is signed by whom. It will really be difficult for me to say anything on this. And if there is anything to it then I am sure BCCI will deal with it," he added. - PTI