India skipper Sourav Ganguly sounded a warning to his team mates ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, saying no one should take his place in the side for granted.
Ganguly's comments, which came a day before the training camp for the 36 probables winds up in Bangalore, will surely renew hopes of the fringe players hoping to break into the Test squad by their performances in the lead-up games.
"Slots are up for grabs. No one can take his place for granted," the Indian skipper told PTI in an exclusive interview.
"Whoever does well is open for selection," he added.
Ganguly, who had earlier hinted that a couple of slots are up for grabs, said the team management has not yet taken a decision on who would keep wickets during the series. But he did single out young Parthiv Patel and hinted that he might be given the job.
"Parthiv has done well. He has got very good hands behind the wicket. We want him to contribute a little bit more with the bat. He knows that and is working hard. I am sure he will."
The Indian captain, however, evaded a question on whether Rahul Dravid, who has hinted that he wants to be relieved of the keeper's responsibility, will continue to double up as wicketkeeper-batsman in the one-dayers.
"We have to wait and see. It is a decision to be taken by the selectors and the team management," he said.
The 30-year-old skipper insisted that the long break from international cricket will not affect the team's performance or motivation in the new season.
"Definitely we want to do well. We had a long break. We just need to get back into our system and do well. We have been working hard in the camps and are confident of doing well," said the elegant left-hander.
He said his young team is determined to make amends for its dismal performance when it toured New Zealand late last year.
He was not too bothered about reports that the Kiwis are resorting to unconventional methods of training to counter Indian conditions and break their jinx of not winning a series in India for a long time.
"Well, I don't know what kind of preparations they are undergoing. It's up to them how hard they work and how quickly they adjust to the conditions here. We will have to wait and see," said Ganguly, whose team struggled on green-top wickets in New Zealand.
Ganguly also said injured speedster Shane Bond's absence from the New Zealand squad would not affect India's chances though it is a blow for the Kiwis.
"He is a good bowler. There is no doubt that he is a quality bowler. Obviously, New Zealand will miss him. But we have beaten them with Shane Bond in their ranks. So it does not really affect out chances."
Ganguly said the team is just concentrating on the task at hand and not thinking about meeting their World Cup nemesis Australia, whom they run into in the tri-series and then take them on in a full-fledged series Down Under later this year.
"At the moment we are looking forward to the series against New Zealand. That's coming first and then we will think about Australia."
He also does not think a tour of Australia is the biggest challenge. "Every tour is a challenge. But obviously the World Cup is the biggest tournament in cricket. It was a huge challenge for me. We did outstandingly well but we were disappointed. We played so well but lost in the final. I would take the positives out if it -- we were the second best side in the world -- and go ahead with it."
He conceded that whenever India meets Australia on the cricket field it is as much a mindgame as skills.
"Australia are a good side and they are playing well. Cricket is a game of mind and body and application in the middle."
The Indian skipper said he has not set any personal goals as such for the season ahead though he is keen to perform well.
"You don't set personal goals. You want to do well just like any other cricketer and you want the team to do well being the captain... so these are the two goals."
Ganguly refused to be drawn into the debate on sledging, triggered off by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar in his Colin Cowdrey lecture at Lord's recently.
"I just don't want to comment on that (sledging). It is a part and parcel of modern day cricket. We have got to go ahead with it."
He admitted he had a few lessons on mindgames from none other than former Australian skipper Greg Chappell.
"I spent a couple of hours with him at Sydney. I kept asking him about mindset and mindgames," he said, but did not elaborate.
He also brushed aside criticism by former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi that he was taking batting tips from Chappell although the team is being coached by John Wright, a specialist left-hand batsman.
"I just spent a little bit of time with him (Chappell). When you meet a great player you always talk about the game and you keep on learning, like when you meet any other great cricketer."
Having carved a niche for himself both as a captain and a player, is Ganguly giving a thought to retirement?
"I am just 30 (laughs). I think I can play for another six to seven years."
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