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Ganguly slams critics

N. Ananthanarayanan

Sachin Tendulkar's move down the batting order in India's one-day team is helping them win matches, captain Sourav Ganguly said on Monday.

Ganguly lashed out at critics who want to see India's premier batsman return to his opening role after a string of uncharacteristically low scores in the Champions Trophy.

Tendulkar batted at number three in Monday's replayed final against Sri Lanka before the game was abandoned because of rain and the teams ended up sharing the trophy.

Ganguly later revealed that Tendulkar, who has dropped down to number four to bolster the middle-order this year, was again moved up due to pressure from people he did not identify.

"The idea was he didn't get runs in two games. Lots of people put unnecessary pressure on him. So it was important he batted at number three with the ball being hard. That's where he is used to batting," Ganguly said.

But Ganguly said the team's performance was what mattered.

"We've got to play more as a team and people who put pressure on him need to realise we as a team need to win.

"We should stop selecting individuals and making them stars rather than pick an eleven and back it," he told reporters.

The 29-year-old Tendulkar has scored most of his record 33 one-day hundreds and over 11,000 runs as an opener.

300TH ONE-DAYER

Tendulkar played his 300th one-day international on Monday, only the second Indian to achieve the landmark after Mohammad Azharuddin (334).

India won a one-day series in West Indies early this year and a triangular series in England in July with Tendulkar batting at number four.

Tendulkar said three days ago he would prefer to open but accepted that the needs of the team came first.

In the Colombo tournament, Tendulkar has made seven, nine not out, 16 and seven, a rare failure for a normally consistently high scoring batsman.

Tendulkar switched to number four in West Indies and young Virender Sehwag has eased into the opening position with equally explosive batting.

Ganguly said Tendulkar would have batted at number three on Sunday as well. That game was also washed out with India having made 14 for no loss chasing a target 245.

Ganguly said: "The idea was to get him on early and once he gets a few boundaries, it will ease the pressure off him."

He said Tendulkar had not asked to return to the opener's slot. "He has done a fantastic job at number four. It is good for the team he bats at number four," Ganguly said.

He said those who criticised Tendulkar's form every time he made a low score were "stupid".

"His record speaks volumes for itself. He has six, seven years to go in international cricket. Only he knows and God knows what he will finish with.

"It is important we all get behind him."

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