Sports India

Former India skipper Ajit Wadekar, whose feat of leading the team to a test series victory in the West Indies has been emulated by Rahul Dravid after 35 years, was all praise for the `the wall` for leading from the front.

“Rahul has always led from the front and has done it again. He knows exactly the difference between batting in one-dayers as compared to doing so in tests. He knows the latter is a five-day game and one has to bat patiently and that`s what he`s done so brilliantly,” Wadekar said after India`s 49-run series-clinching win in the fourth and final test at Kingston, Jamaica yesterday.

Wadekar also hailed the spin duo of Harbhajan Singh, who piloted the West Indies downfall in the first innings with career-best away figures of 5 for 13, and veteran leggie Anil Kumble, who used the vagaries of the pitch to claim six wickets in the second innings and stop the hosts well short of the target.

“Harbhajan and Anil have always bowled well in tandem. Both bowled brilliantly and played a big part in the victory. In fact, it was a mistake in not playing Harbhajan in the first two tests. Otherwise, India could have won the series stylishly with a handsomely bigger margin,” the former left-handed stylish batsman said.

“If Virender Sehwag could get wickets, then Harbhajan certainly could have (in the first two tests). They could certainly have won the series with a bigger margin looking at the opposition, the wickets etc. Anyway winning the last test in just three days was a huge achievement,” Wadekar pointed out.

“At last they have showed they could do it overseas also,” Wadekar said.

Wadekar had led India to their only previous series triumph in the West Indies in 1971 when the team defeated Gary Sobers` side 1-0 in the five-Test series before guiding the team to another historic away rubber victory over England a few months later.

Former Indian skipper Ajit Wadekar, whose feat of leading the team to a Test series victory in the West Indies has been emulated by Rahul Dravid after 35 years, was all praise for the ‘The Wall’ for leading from the front.

“Rahul has always led from the front and has done it again. He knows exactly the difference between batting in one-dayers as compared to doing so in Tests. He knows the latter is a five-day game and one has to bat patiently and that’s what he’s done so brilliantly,” Wadekar said in Mumbai after India’s 49-run series-clinching win in the fourth and final Test at Kingston, Jamaica yesterday.

Wadekar also hailed the spin duo of Harbhajan Singh , who piloted the West Indies downfall in the first innings with career-best away figures of 5/13, and veteran leggie Anil Kumble , who used the vagaries of the pitch to claim six wickets in the second innings and stop the hosts well short of the target.

“Harbhajan and Anil have always bowled well in tandem. Both bowled brilliantly and played a big part in the victory. In fact, it was a mistake in not playing Harbhajan in the first two Tests. Otherwise, India could have won the series stylishly with a handsomely bigger margin,” the former left-handed stylish batsman said.