Last chance for a significant overseas win?

Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, Kumble and Laxman have been the core of the Indian Test team for over a decade. While these guys have been at the top of their game and have been acknowledged the world over for their abilities, the one big gaping hole in their CV is a significant overseas Test series win. No, Zimbabwe does not count, and Pakistan '04 is still sub-continent.

I am certain these gentlemen feel it more than most - Tendulkar may have been the best batsman in the world over the past 15 years, but the dearth of away wins takes away some sheen from his reputation. Same with Dravid, perhaps the best No.3 in the world in a long time. Of course, the reasons are plenty - foremost among them being the lack of bowling firepower and batting nous on pitches where the ball bounces and seams more than at home. However, history won't bother going into details - it will go by the dismal away record and hold it against these great cricketers.

Of the 5, Ganguly has been discarded, but the others are still in with a chance to rectify the record. The upcoming West Indies tour may perhaps be really India's best chance to notch up a significant overseas win. Critics will claim that beating the Windies is not what it used to be, but for an underachieving team like India, it will count as a major achievement. Dravid got it right when he said India cannot go into this tour as favourites - simply because they have never managed to pull it together overseas. Bar the Aussie tour in 2004 where they were breathtaking against a McGrath and Warne-less Australia, they have let themselves down badly.

So a series win in the Carribean will be a significant achievement for the team. Also, this tour gains lot more importance because it may well be the last chance for the Indian stars to win anything away from home. India tour South Africa in Dec this year, and even the most ardent Indian fan cannot hope that India will win there. The pitches there are bouncy and pacy, and India is still not equipped enough to handle that. India tour England in June 2007, and England will start that series as huge favourites. India then tour Aus in Dec 2007, and Aus at home are simply awesome.

If you consider the age, career stage and circumstances of Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Kumble, I don't see most of them carrying on after Dec 2007 - which means this Windies tour could really be their last real chance! Will this be on their minds? You bet! Will they dig deep and pull India through?