Dravid may continue to keep wickets

The Indian team management may not experiment with a new wicketkeeper for the upcoming triangular series involving New Zealand and world champions Australia, with skipper Sourav Ganguly indicating today that Rahul Dravid may be persisted with in the dual role of wicketkeeper-batsman.

Though Dravid had recently hinted at wanting to be relieved of the responsibility, Ganguly gave his vice-captain a vote of confidence, saying he had done a good job behind the stumps in the shorter version of the game.

"He [Dravid] kept wickets in one-day cricket. We think we are pretty much in our mind in one-day games," Ganguly told reporters at the probables' camp in Bangalore, which ended today.

The Indian captain's comment could put an end to speculation whether Dravid, who was initially assigned the dual role till the World Cup, will continue to don the wicketkeeping gloves to provide balance to the team during the triangular series.

Ganguly, who has already warned his teammates not to take their places in the side for granted, said Shiv Sundar Das, Gautam Gambhir and Wasim Jaffer, who were quite successful during the recent India 'A' tour of England, would be in the reckoning for the openers' slots.

"They had a great India 'A' tour and scored runs," the captain said. "We are also looking at others."

On former Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh, Ganguly said he personally would like to see the batsman back in contention. "I think he is a good player. He has got a decent record as opener. Somehow, he was not selected for the India 'A' team that toured the West Indies and England. I was not part of the selection process.

"[But] I am sure he will get his opportunity and we hope it's not too long," said Ganguly, adding that he and coach John Wright had spoken to Ramesh, whose fitness level has improved a lot.

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Asked about V S Thilak Naidu, a contender for the wicketkeeper's slot, Ganguly said he does not judge anybody at the nets. "Performance at the nets and in the middle are a different ball game altogether," he said.

Ganguly said the fact that Naidu scored 900 runs last year showed that he has some calibre. "Dravid has also spoken very highly of the Karnataka wicketkeeper. We have to see how he plays in the Challenger series," he said.

Asked if pace bowler Munaf Patel, rated highly by Dennis Lillee and touted by a newspaper as the next big thing, was impressive at the the nets, he said: "He looked sharp. But we have to watch him at the centre ... his temperament, how he performs under pressure when being hit hard. All these contribute to being a complete bowler."

Ganguly said batting legend Sunil Gavaskar shared a few tips on footwork and technique during the nets and expressed the hope that it would enable him to bat better. "I have been working on it," he said. "Obviously, it's going to take some time. I hope I make use of it to play better."