Yuvraj Singh would err if he tries to step into Sourav Ganguly's massive shoes and all the Punjab left-hander needs to do is to remain himself, said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Ganguly's retirement paved the way for Yuvraj's recall into the Test squad and the dashing youngster is seen as a natural successor to his former captain who quit the game after the home series against Australia.
Dhoni, however, wants Yuvraj to remain himself. "The biggest fault would be if he tries to fill in Ganguly's shoes. He should be himself," Dhoni told reporters on the eve of India's first Test match against England.
"He is a very different individual. His gameplan is different from others and he plays in a different way. So, he needs to be himself. That is what we want him to be.
"From the team point of view, we want Yuvraj Singh as Yuvraj Singh and we do not really want him to fill in Sourav's shoes. He should just be himself," Dhoni said.
Yuvraj has been in sensational form in both the one-day and Twenty20 formats of the game but somehow could not replicate the same success in the longer version.
Dhoni, however, seemed to have enough faith in the left-hander and said, "The way he is batting, he is in good nick. He needs to continue with that. Of course, he can be a part-time bowler as well. He can have a big impact in both batting and bowling."
Dhoni likewise argued that young leg-spinner Amit Mishra should not try and step into Anil Kumble's shoes but be himself.
"You are part of the side as an individual. If any individual thinks he is replacing Anil, he will be in real trouble. That is why I say to all that we want them to be themselves," he argued.
Dhoni, however, admitted that the team would miss Kumble here but felt it was an opportunity for the youngsters to make their mark.
"The plus point of Anil is that if you are out of the plan and give the ball to him to bowl, within 10 or 15 minutes you will be back on track of your plan. We will miss him. It is really tough to replace all the senior players who have retired.
"But more or less, the same (Indian) side played against Australia. Anil bhai was not there for a couple of games. Amit Mishra has done well. I do not think the basics changed a lot," he said.
"Of course, those guys who have retired had much more experience. They were people who could read the game very well. It is an opportunity for the youngsters to groom at the same levels to read the game better. More often, it is the one who reads the game very well comes out as the winner," he added.
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