Sunil Gavaskar has criticised India's captain Sourav Ganguly for being inflexible during the first Test against West Indies in Guyana. "Being flexible is the key to good captaincy. And for that, the 'Prince of Kolkata' has to remember that he is the captain of India," Gavaskar wrote in his Wednesday's column in the Hindustan Times.

Gavaskar also criticised the team management for playing wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta ahead of Ajay Ratra, and was also not happy with the Indian batting order in the drawn first Test.

Hailing vice-captain Rahul Dravid's unbeaten 144 in the Guyana Test as a "courageous, capital knock," Gavaskar suggested that Dravid should be promoted to No. 3.

Dravid rescued India with a gritty knock at No. 5 after Ganguly – who made 5 batting at No. 3 - had struggled against the West Indies pace attack.

"The captain must also have a rethink about his position in the batting order, especially now that Dravid has scored a classy century," Gavaskar wrote from Georgetown, although Ganguly has said he will continue at No. 3.

Gavaskar also felt India should have tried out more players in their only practice game before the first Test.

"It may well be that with the next Test starting in three days' time, the tour selectors wouldn't want to make changes, since the reserves have hardly had a feel of the pitches.

"It is here that the folly of playing a full-strength side against a depleted Guyana team becomes evident," said Gavaskar, who felt opener Wasim Jaffer should have been tried in that match.

"If Wasim Jaffer had been played, the selectors would have had some idea of how he was adjusting to the pitches and conditions. Now of course, it will be tough for them to pitchfork him into the XI - not at least till he has played in the three-day game between the second and third Tests."

Gavaskar went on: "The West Indians gained more from this drawn game than the Indians, for they were down in the dumps and way short on confidence before the game began.

"They had been hammered in Tests in Sri Lanka and by Pakistan on the flat pitches at Sharjah, and their confidence was very low in spite of the return of Brian Lara to the ranks. Lara didn't score a run and that West Indies still got 500 is what will add to their confidence."

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