Blame Ganguly's form on team-mates - Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar believes Sourav Ganguly's form is plummeting because the Indian captain is spending too much time worrying about his team-mates. Gavaskar, who joined the squad as a batting consultant after receiving a call from Ganguly, now has him as one of his biggest problems.

Ganguly made 45 in the first innings of the first Test but the nine he made at Chennai was torturous. Lacking in confidence and poking tentatively at Michael Kasprowicz's off-cutters, he was dropped on nought and four before falling to Jason Gillespie. "As captain he is always bothered about the performances of the others," Gavaskar said. "As a result his own batting has suffered. He should get over it."

Ganguly is struggling to find the right opening partner for Virender Sehwag and of greater concern is the inability of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman to torment Australia again. Laxman has 38 runs in three innings while Dravid has made 86 and Ganguly 59. "They are all quality players, they have all performed in the past," said Gavaskar.

The imminent return of Sachin Tendulkar for the third Test will be easing Ganguly's mind. Tendulkar has been having a daily net session at the MIG Cricket Club in Mumbai, where he played as a boy.

Tendulkar's last game was a one-dayer on August 1 but Ganguly denied such a long layoff would make him too rusty. "I don't think it will be a problem," said Ganguly. "He is a cricketer par excellence. He will be able to get back into rhythm straight away."

Tendulkar's latest net session began with barely a soul in sight. He started by bowling his legspinners with a yellow and red tennis ball. He batted while one of his best mates, Atul Ranade, bowled. Tendulkar faced a tennis ball for a few minutes then graduated to a match ball.

Ranade bowled slowly until Tendulkar told him to "make it interesting". Tendulkar stroked cover drives and late cuts and most of the other shots in his wide repertoire. Not once did he wince in pain. Asked whether he would play at Nagpur he said: "Should know in four days." Tendulkar will have a fitness test on Sunday.