Former Pakistan left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim believes that Rahul Dravid will be the key batsman for India in the three-Test series, starting at Mohali on Tuesday.
"Dravid will be the key wicket for Pakistan. He has the capability of carrying the Indian batting on his own shoulders. He plays very patiently and can play long innings.
"Sachin Tendulkar is also a master batsman. But, right now, he is just coming back from an injury. I cannot say whether he will be able to play the full series at his best.
"But if Tendulkar is not playing, then Dravid and V V S Laxman, if he is in good form, will the two key batsman from the Pakistan point of view.
"The Indian batting has more experience. No doubt, the abovementioned batsmen will also commit some mistakes, so you need to be patient against them."
Speaking to rediff.com over telephone, the 51-year-old believes that leg spinner Danish Kaneria will don the role of strike bowler in the series for Pakistan following the withdrawal of speedster Shoaib Akhtar
"Kaneria has improved a lot. He took the role of strike bowler in the Test series in Australia and performed his job very well.
"He will certainly make an impression in the series. But the spinner at the other end -- that is Arshad Khan -- also needs to support him well. There should be pressure from the other end too; only then Kaneria will be very effective."
Qasim stressed upon the fact that the Indian bowling, featuring two top spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, will be a formidable force to deal with, as the Pakistan team has a lot of youngsters.
"You have Irfan Pathan, who is very talented; Zaheer Khan, who is in good form, and Ashish Nehra. Then you have two world-class spinners in Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh; plus anytime during the series they can call upon a third spinner in Murali Kartihk, who is also very good. So their bowling attack is very good and has a lot of variety."
Qasim was a part of the Pakistan team that visited India in 1987. He proved a handful for the Indian batsmen, claiming 12 wickets, as the visitors beat India 1-0 in the five-Test series.
He took nine of those wickets in the final Test at Bangalore, where Sunil Gavaskar's gutsy knock of 96 went in vain as India lost the match by 16 runs, and the series with it.
"I can never forget the innings of 96 that Sunil Gavaskar played in that Test match. He played an excellent innings, on a wicket that had so much of uneven bounce in the fourth innings.
"It was a treat to watch!
"I will never forget the way he mastered the difficult conditions. It is an example for every cricketer from every part of the world. The innings was a lot to learn from -- on how to build an innings, how to play patiently on such difficult tracks."
He feels that the Indian batsmen have become more aggressive than the last time Pakistan toured India in 1999.
"The Pakistan spinners will need to control their line and length and work really hard for their wickets. Spinners have limited weapons, especially finger spinners. They have to maintain a good line and length, and if the wicket is turning, then exploit it to the maximum.
"The game has a changed a lot in the last ten years. Nowadays there is so much of one-day cricket being played, which has resulted in innovations, especially with the batsmen, who have invented a lot of new shots. So this has also brought about a change in the way Test cricket has been played."
However, like a true cricket fan and player, Qasim believes the result of the series will not matter. He just wants the series to be played in the right spirit and cricket of the highest quality.
"It will be a very interesting series and I hope it is entertaining. Winning or losing will not matter. It is important that the crowds are well-entertained by both the teams, who have some very good players.
"I cannot say which team will win, but I am quite sure that this will not be a one-sided affair. It will be a very tough series and will be closely-fought."
