Blame tactics for losses, but Dhoni is the right captain: Gavaskar

Cricket expert Sunil Gavaskar has battered some of the toughest opposition in his career without hesitation. NDTV's Nikhil Naz tested the former Indian captain with some quick rapid fire questions in an interview, but the Little Master once again refused to break down under the pressure.

Excerpts

Q: On current form, what are the chances that England will complete a 4-0 whitewash.

A: About 70 percent.

Q: If it is talent, temperament and technique that define Test cricket, what's the most lacking area for team India right now?

A: Tactics

Q: Name 5 Indian players ready to be blooded in test cricket on a regular basis.

A: On a regular basis; Virat Kohli, he's already played a few matches, Abhinav Mukund who has shown promise, like to think Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and I still have faith in Murali Vijay. I hope he is utilising this time off to strengthen his back-foot play. He will be a good player since he already has a Test century under his belt.

Q: Should Dhoni's burden as captain, wicket-keeper and key batsman be reduced by relieving him from the captaincy in one form of the game?

A: No, I don't think so. I think he's the best man for the job.

Q: One reason why Indians pacers apart from Zaheer Khan can't deliver consistently?

A: Well, because they don't have the experience and Zaheer has it. Just like a batsman, you need experience to go from 60 to 100. Similarly I think a lot of our younger boys like Ishant, Sreesanth and Munaf can get you three wickets but they don't know how to go from 3 wickets to 5 wickets.

Q:Your response to Geoff Boycott saying that India's abject surrender to England will hurt test cricket in the long run?

A: Well that's because he believes that India might stop playing Test cricket and that might not be good for the overall game.

Q: Is Sachin's 100th 100 weighing on his mind and affecting his performance in this series?

A: No, I don't think so.

Q: What do you think about BCCI's rule change allowing cricketer to be selectors after 5 years of retirement rather than 10 years?

A: I think five years a reasonable period. Ten years is too long a cut-off. Five years means that the guy still has touch with contemporary cricket and the changes. There is always a possibility that there could be 1-2 guys he might not have got on with in the dressing room who could still be in contention for a place. But I still think that as a Test cricketer as somebody who has represented India he has the best interests of Indian cricket at heart.

Q: Do you support Anna Hazare's fight against corruption?

A: Of course, who doesn't?