The comfortable victory over the West Indies in the opening game of the three match series in Toronto on Saturday was most welcome, coming as it after the reverses suffered in Sri Lanka and Singapore. Everything clicked from the batting to the bowling to the catching. The brilliant showing by wicketkeeper M.S.K.Prasad completed the happy picture. He proved that given proper chances he could be a long term prospect - it should not be forgotten that he made a few good runs too in his unexpected role as opening batsman - and at the same time made the point that the team should not have to depend on Rahul Dravid to keep wickets when the side's regular stumper is available.

But perhaps the most heartening feature of Saturday's win was Saurav Ganguly's captaincy. He was elevated only after the captain and vice captain withdrew because of injuries. But he grapped the opportunity and showed a positive approach on the field that could not fail to win the admiration of all those who witnessed the match. His field placings were unusual but it was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into them. He had obviously analysed each West Indian's batsman's strength and weaknesses and pinned him down on the latter. His bowling changes too were uncanny and one particularly liked the manner in which he handled Robin Singh. The Trinidad born Tamil Nadu all rounder is a frontline bowler but Azharuddin, Tendulkar and Jadeja have tended to use him only as a sixth bowler and not always as one who should be given his full quota. Robin is the kind of bowler who should come on midway through the innings but of course as he has proved he is also handy in the slog overs when with his penchant for accuracy he is difficult to hit. Well utilised by Ganguly, Robin emerged the most successful bowler on Saturday.

It does not matter if Ganguly is only going to be a stop gap captain. It is always good to have another candidate who is suitable leadership material. This would ensure that the incumbent will be on guard. Indeed, Indian cricket has never had it so good in matters of batsmanship and captaincy. Four of the five leading batsmen in the side have a Test average of 50 - something that has never happened before. And there are at least four candidates who are eminently qualified to lead the country in Tendulkar, Jadeja, Ganguly and Dravid, who is the vice captain in Toronto. The icing on the cake is the fact that far from being pressurised by the captaincy, the 27-year-old Bengal batsman seemed to relish the responsibilities, a point driven home by his elegant, effusive unbeaten 54 which hastened the win. Now if only he could stamp the seal of authority of his stewardship and lead India to victory at Toronto!