With the Indian cricket team returning to winning ways, thanks to impressive performances by the newcomers, former captain Mansur Ali Khan says Sourav Ganguly's chances of a comeback to the squad appear bleak.

"Competition for a berth in the Indian team has now drastically increased. And it is all the more difficult to return once you are out of the team," Pataudi said.

"I am not saying that Ganguly is not successful, but he will have to be really among the runs to stake a claim in the team," he said.

Told that it if Sachin Tendulkar could return to the team after six months, then why Ganguly could not, he replied: "The biggest difference between the two is that Ganguly's weakness is exposed to the bowlers world over but no one can say that about Sachin."

Pataudi also praised the Indian players for improving the traditionally weak areas of their game.

"The Indian team has now started doing well in the areas that were its weak links so far. The fielding department has improved a lot.

"Our bowling has also become much better now, fielding is still improving and, most significantly, players are very confident," he said.

He said any cricketer's potential could be known in three or four matches and the youngsters have proved themselves.

"Three or four matches are enough to evaluate a player, then luck also is a factor," he aded.

Patuadi also supported Chappell on developing Virender Sehwag as a leader.

"Sehwag has leadership qualities and if he has to be given the responsibility, he must have experience as well," he said.

He said Mahendra Singh Dhoni has solved India's requirement of a good wicketkeeper-batsman and believed that the team now needs an all-rounder like South Africa's Jaques Kallis or England's Andrew Flintoff.

"But getting a Flintoff or a Kallis is a matter of luck," he said.