Calcutta: When you come across a number of legends on one dais, you're certainly in for a treat.

There were anecdotes, a good bit of humour and, of course, words of wisdom when four stalwarts of Indian cricket - Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag - shared the stage. They were participating in a talk show held during lunch break on Day I of the second India-New Zealand Test at Eden Gardens, to commemorate India's 250 Tests at home.

The discussion centred mainly on Indian cricket's turnaround and the changed mindset of the players, outstanding performances particularly in overseas tours and the aggression that was inculcated in the players since that historic series victory in the West Indies in 1970-71 and the 1983 World Cup triumph.

Calling the current generation as the most aggressive, Kapil said upbringing went a long way in determining one's aggression.

"Family background and upbringing plays a crucial part in determining your aggression, your mindset of not giving up. We were familiar with such aggression was mainly among north Indians, but Sourav and Anil's on-field aggression surprised most of us.

"Sourav was absolutely unbelievable... We had an idea that Bengalis were generally artistic, but Sourav simply changed the entire perception," Kapil said.

"Guys today are far more aggressive with an in-your-face attitude. They want to be No.1 not just in cricket, but in every field."

Kapil, Sourav and Kumble agreed that Sehwag was the man who brought about a change in the mindset of batsman. Even Matthew Hayden was intimidating at the top of the order, with his ability to destroy bowling attacks in the very first session of a game, Sourav added.

"Viru, I feel, changed players' mindset all over the world. Even Hayden had a similar impact," Sourav said.

"Viru had the ability to demolish any attack under any condition in the very first morning of the match. His batting ensured a kind of cushion to the batsmen to come. He simply took the pressure off them," said Kumble.

For the man himself, it was about controlling the mind and having his captain's backing. "Look, it's important to control your mind.

"I never feared being dropped because I had the captain's backing - Dada being the person in most cases. Your captain's backing is more like an extra innings for you," Sehwag emphasised.

Not just in mindset, but the culture of Indian cricket too has changed since the captain these days has lot of say regarding the team. It's not just about selectors calling the shots, the legends agreed.

"In our time, selectors had a far greater say. On some occasions, captains would be announced for just two matches, so we hardly got a set team. "Things have changed now as captains are given a longer tenure, far more responsibility and have a say on their preference in team selection," Kapil viewed.

Kumble, now the India head coach, doesn't interfere at all in the decisions Virat Kohli takes on the field. "Virat had played under my captaincy for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL. But that's past now and I've told him that I won't be giving him dirty looks if something goes wrong on the field. 'You're the boss there', I have told Virat," the former leg-spinner said.

The unforgettable Test victory against the mighty Aussies in 2001 at the Eden was the defining moment for Indian cricket, Sourav iterated.

But for Kumble and Sehwag, India's innings win against England at Headingley, in 2002, and the triumph over Australia in Adelaide (in 2003-04) was equally massive in changing Indian cricketers' mindset.

"The Headingley Test win, I think, was the defining moment for Indian cricket. Yes, prior to that, we did have one or two away victories but once we won in Headingley, we were able to beat Australia in Adelaide and then Pakistan in Pakistan," Kumble analysed.

"I feel the wins in Headingley and Adelaide were both pivotal. How can one forget Rahul Dravid's knock when we were under enormous pressure!" Sehwag stressed.

Both Kumble's and Sehwag's views were more than noteworthy, but Sourav perhaps summed it the best way possible.

Recalling the epic victory against a Steve Waugh-led all-conquering Australian team at his favourite Eden, Sourav said: "I agree with Anil and Sehwag, but that 2001 win here was unreal.