07 April,2009 03:27 PM IST | | PTI
Former cricket greats today hailed the Indian team on winning a Test series on New Zealand soil after 41 years, calling Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led legions one of the best sides the country ever had.
Chandu Borde, who was part of Indian team under Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi which beat the Kiwi 3-1 in 1968, said the current side would rank as one of the best teams in Indian history.
"I am doubly happy now that India has won a Test series in New Zealand after 41 years. This takes me to 1967-68 when I was a member of the Indian team which won first Test series there," said Borde, the former captain and coach.
"The way this team kept on performing was amazing. I have watched so many Indian teams over the years and I think this is one of the best we ever had," he added.
Borde feels that the all-round strength of the current team has made it one of the formidable sides in the world.
"This team has great batting line-up, good bowling attack and doing good in fielding. They won in England, did well in Australia and Sri Lanka, what do you want more?" he asked.
Legendary spinner Erapalli Prasanna, who played a big role in the 1968 victory, while hailing the current team felt the contribution of the tail-enders was a big factor in India's 1-0 series victory in New Zealand.
"I am delighted by the series victory. Every body has done their bit. But the tail-enders scoring runs have been a revelation of this tour," Prasanna said.
"We have the best batting line-up in the world. We have the best four batsmen in the world now - Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman. Virender Sehwag is not in the best form in this tour.
"I won't call MS Dhoni a tail-ender. But the way Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh and the tail batting has been a revelation of this tour," he said.
Chairman of selectors Krish Srikkanth singled out the hunger to win among the players the driving force behind the laurels they brought in recent time.
"This team has been performing consistently in recent times. What makes this team different is the way the boys come out with flying colours from difficult situations. They fought back against Australia in Bangalore, did the same against England in Chennai before the second Test against New Zealand in Napier," he said.
"This team has the hunger to win all the time, that is their biggest asset," he said. "Gautam Gambhir is doing great. Then there is Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh is also there. This is the best batting line-up in modern cricket."
