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Ganguly wants Yuvraj as opener in Tests

June 13, 2004 15:04 IST

Skipper Sourav Ganguly on Sunday categorically stated that Yuvraj Singh would don the role of an opener in Tests and vice-captain Rahul Dravid would continue to double up as the wicket-keeper in one-dayers.

"Yuvraj is a class act. A person of his stature and ability should not be kept out of the team. I think there is a slot for him as an opener. I am pretty much sure that with his ability and mindset, he will definitely get used to it (opener's slot)," Ganguly told reporters in Bangalore when asked about efforts to include Yuvraj in the Test side.

"(Virender) Sehwag never used to open before he opened for India but has done amazingly well as an opener," he said.

Ganguly said Yuvraj was the first choice 'for the moment' considering his ability and the number of games he has won for India. If Yuvraj does not do well as an opener, then one might have to think of an alternative.

In one-dayers, Dravid would continue to keep wickets.

"Dravid has helped the team in terms of balance and batting depth. If you can find somebody who can do the job as well as Dravid has in the past two years, then we might start thinking. But at the moment, he is doing such a wonderful job, we will have to stick with him."

Asked if he contemplated opening the innings in ODIs, he said: "It will revolve around Sachin Tendulkar, Sehwag and myself, what suits the team. So, it (opening the innings) is definitely not out of the question.

"We will see how it goes, what's the form of Dravid and how well I am playing. All these things we will have to keep in mind," said Ganguly, who is in Bangalore for the week-long fitness camp for the Asia Cup probables, which began on Sunday.

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