India can form a line-up which would be similar to the Fab-four: Sanjay Bangar

India’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar feels that he emergence of the KL Rahul has spiced up the competition for places in the India Test team. The Test team currently boasts of the some really exciting names and under the leadership of Virat Kohli they have tasted immense success in the past 12 months.

Rahul’s emergence at the top has made regulars like Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan pull their socks up and evaluate their performances.

“He (Rahul) has created a lot of competition among the boys. Rahul has made it count each time he has gone in to bat. Be it the Test centuries he scored in Sydney, Colombo, Jamaica or the hundreds in ODIs and T20s – Rahul has been fantastic,” Bangar told TOI.

Rahul has seen a wonderful surge in his stocks. Skipper Virat Kohli seems to have a lot of trust in him.

“We reach out to the player and make him understand the reasons that went into it (the decision-making). We ensure that the communication (between coaches and players) remains smooth.”

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If Rahul’s presence at the top has been reassuring, R Ashwin’s all-round skills have only added a new dimension to this line-up. Ashwin proved that he is now more than just an off-spinner after hitting two tons against West Indies.

“An all-rounder is an asset in any format of the game, and Ashwin has shown why he is one of the best. Ashwin’s ability to score those runs lower down the order plus his skills with the ball lend a lot of flexibility to the side,” Bangar said.

Bangar also feels that these talented players can form the core of the Indian batting order and even compared them to the ‘fabulous four’ of the 2000’s which had Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid .

“I do believe so,” said Bangar, before adding, “If this group of players continues to perform well – then they could form a line-up which would be similar to the one India had in the early 2000s which had Sachin, Dravid, Ganguly, and Laxman. These players have immense potential and they are well on their way to achieving great things for Indian cricket.”

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According to Bangar, the three-Test series against New Zealand, beginning at Kanpur from September 22, is an opportunity for India to reclaim the No 1 spot.

“The kind of progress this team has made in the last two years (from hovering around World No 7 to becoming World No 1 twice in the last 6 months), indicates the work being put in. Our goal has been to play an aggressive brand of cricket.

“The third Test against West Indies last month comes to my mind as we had very little time to force a result as a day-and-half was washed out. But the kind of cricket we played to get a result out of that game shows our hunger to be a top side,” said Bangar.