Lot of changes in Indian cricket if we lose at Eden: Sourav Ganguly

Suggesting that Indian skipper MS Dhoni should not opt for a turner in the coming Test match here against England, former skipper Sourav Ganguly on Monday said there "could be lot of changes" in Indian cricket if the home side lost at Eden Gardens.

"Dhoni should not seek a turner. If the ball turns, the England spinners will create problems for the Indian batsmen. And if India lose two back to back Tests then there will be lot of changes in Indian cricket," he said.

The former India skipper also said that Dhoni should draft in pacer Ashok Dinda for Harbhajan Singh in the third Test,
beginning here from December 5.

Ganguly said the English spinners outplayed the hosts in handing the visitors a series-levelling 10-wicket win in Mumbai

"I think Dhoni and the team management should not insist again for a spin-friendly wicket as it would only create problem for the Indian batsmen," Ganguly said.

"I want to see Dinda in the line-up in place of Harbhajan Singh. Playing three spinners don't work at all, which is showed clearly in Harbhajan's bowling of 20-odd overs. I hope MS will balance the attack (at Eden)."

Preparing a turner at the Eden would only do harm to India, Ganguly believed.

"England spinners bowled better and beat them with the pace whereas the Indian spinners, barring Pragyan Ojha, resorted to bowling slow. Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook played them well resorting to backfoot play."

Asked whether complacency had crept in after India's win in the first Test at Motera, Ganguly said, "It was one of those losses. As I said, England outplayed the Indians with their spin bowling."

Ganguly, however, firmly believed that India would bounce back in the remaining two Tests.

"It will be an accident if we don't win the series."

Asked if it was high time to think about removing Dhoni from the captaincy, he said, "First, we lose two more Tests, than we will talk about this. Let's cross the bridge when we get there."

India went down by ten wickets in the second Test of the ongoing series inside four days at Mumbai, with English spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann taking 16 wickets between them.

Regarding Sachin Tendulkar, who is yet to be among runs in the series, Ganguly said: "Yes, his reflexes have gone down. But that is bound to happen with age. But what I feel is that Tendulkar is out of form and needs runs.

"I want to earnestly believe that he will get runs in the two remaining Tests".

The talismanic former Indian left hander said it was for Tendulkar, and not for the selectors, to decide when he will quit international cricket.