Ranchi: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that the absence of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan in the rest of India’s tour of England is definitely a blow, but at the same time it would provide the younger players a chance to show their talents.

“Zaheer’s injury is a big blow... Zaheer’s absence will be a challenge for the Indian team... However, the team needs to cope with the situation and perform well,” Sourav, who was in Ranchi on Sunday for a promotional, said. Sourav also praised India captain Dhoni for his ability to absorb pressure in crunch situations but asked fans to give him more space.

“Dhoni is a very good captain... But the job of leading the Indian cricket team is very tough. When a captain leads his team to a victory, people praise him… But the same captain is hauled up when the team performs badly... Dhoni should be given more space,” Sourav said.

“Dhoni woh race ka ghoda hai jo kabhi thakta nahi hai,” he added. Speaking about the other Indian players, Sourav said: “Unless you are a legend like Sachin Tendulkar, most players have a short career… Hence, one has to make the best use of the opportunities.”