Time for Laxman, Dravid to leave: Bapu Nadkarni

Slamming the Indian squad, especially its star-studded batting line-up for its dismal show in Australia, former Test all-rounder Bapu Nadkarni today said it was time the under-performing duo of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid be replaced.

"I think so (time for Laxman and Dravid to be replaced). I think they themselves know it. It's the selectors' call," Nadkarni told PTI today.

India have squandered the four-Test rubber by conceding a 0-3 lead to hosts Australia after being thrashed by an innings in the third match at Perth.

However, his former India mate and ex-Test captain Ajit Wadekar said there was no effective replacement in sight for the Big Two, while another ex-captain and former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar expressed worries that the downslide would continue as long as politicians, who have little knowledge of the game or passion for it, continue to head its administration.

"We need to inject young blood but tell me barring Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to some extent, who is there? I think we did not play enough matches to get used to the conditions like we did in England. One game is not enough. The Australians also bowled very well, they knew where and how to bowl. They kept pegging outside the off stump," Wadekar said.

Nadkarni said he was extremely disappointed at the team's performance in Australia, especially its batting.

"I am very disappointed with the performance. It's a pitiable performance. I expected a lot more from this team which, I thought, was well-balanced. It's done well except for the poor batting. Always the bowlers had bailed the team out but the batting failed," he said.