India's cricketers may be poor travelers, but their former coach, John Wright, feels the team can be "very competitive" if it gets its batting right and the big players perform in the upcoming series against England.
"Always the key for India is their belief that they can win away from India. When they are overseas they don't get enough runs. I think if they get their batting right and their big players perform they will be very competitive," said Wright, who was coach when Sourav Ganguly led India to their famous NatWest series triumph five years ago.
Referring to seniors like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, the former New Zealand opener said it is hardly a surprise that even half a decade later the team's nucleus remains the same.
"I am not surprised to see the same names here. They are still the best batsmen in India. There are no other Dravids or Tendulkars on the horizon. One of the joys of my job was to sit there just watching them bat," he was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
On Ganguly, he said "...and I loved Ganguly to bits he added spice to the side."
Wright, who also guided India to historic series win in Pakistan and drawing of a series in Australia besides reaching the final of 2003 World Cup, said the absence of a coach might rather be good for the team.
"A deep breath, and the recognition that they have no coach, might be good for them in the short term. They have an experienced batting line-up and the onus will be on them to plan and perform," said Wright, back in New Zealand now, and having recently turned down the chance to head Queensland's Centre of Excellence.
