This is the best Indian ODI team ever, feels Sidhu

New Delhi, May 18 (UNI) Rahul Dravid leads what is perhaps the all time best Indian one day team and the entire credit for the metamorphosis goes to coach Greg Chappell, said former Test cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu.

On the sidelines of a programme here, the crickter-turned- commentator told UNI that Chappell has moulded the bunch into a flamboyant side which has a great future.

''By far, I think this is perhaps the best Indian team in one dayers. Earlier, we depended on a star player to bail us out but now you have eleven stars in the side,'' he said.

''And full credit goes to Mr Chappell. He simply revolutionised Indian cricket,'' Sidhu added.

Elaborating further, Sidhu, also a Member of the Parliament, said, ''Earlier, our strategy meant going into a a match with seven batsmen and there was no Plan A or Plan B. But Chappell changed things and now you have contingency plans in place. Even the team doesn't know who will open -- sometimes it's (Virender) Sehwag, sometimes it's (Irfan ) Pathan and even (MS) Dhoni. Now you have seven options as opener.'' ''It makes Team India a very unpredictable bunch. Mr Chappell has recognised the players and entrusted them with some responsibilities and the results are before us to see,'' he added.

He was also impressed with Dravid's captaincy and characteristically resorted to ''Sidhuism'' to buttress his case.

''Dravid is an inspirationl leader, like Ricky Ponting. With a tiger leading them, even the sheeps will behave like a tiger and it's vice-versa.'' On India's Caribbean tour, the former opener had no doubt that Team India will win both the Test and one day series hands down.

''I can assure you, it's going to be a one-way traffic and the West Indies will be pummelled into submission.'' Though Sidhu was all praise for the current team, he still felt sorry for former Team India captain Sourav Ganguly.

''The game is eternal and it moved on without the likes of Sunil Gavaskar or Kapil Dev and it will go on without Ganguly as well. But it was very sad that he was thrown out of the team in such a manner.

It was a complete disgrace and there was obvious personal agenda behind it. I still feel petty personal interests should not be placed over national interest,'' he added.

UNI AY PM RN1458