Those gathered to greet Team India at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) ground on Tuesday had a surprise guest - former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin - and a score of valuable tips for the young players from him.

Sports reporters hanging around the ground to take a final look at the preparations for the practice session of the Indian players starting on Wednesday ahead of the first India-West Indies One-Day International slated for Jan 21, could scarcely believe their eyes when they saw the lanky Azharuddin descend on the ground for his evening workout.

They had to wait quite a while, however, before the former skipper obliged them with a leisurely chat. "Your word of advice for Team India, particularly the young players selected for the series," was the obvious first query Azharuddin had to field.

"Scoring runs is of the essence in One-day matches. There is no point merely occupying the crease and making no runs," pat came Azhar's reply, albeit in his characteristic faltering style.

"We lack aggression... the hesitation, indecision and clumsiness is all too evident if you look at some of them on the crease - scoring 20-30 runs in 100 balls - that's not done in One-dayers," he said.

As for the World Cup to be held in March-April, Azharuddin was equally candid about what must be our priority - the fittest team.

"The entire team, each individual player, must be perfectly fit," he said citing the third India-South Africa Test in the recent series as an example of what happens when even one player is not fit.

"Was it not largely because Munaf Patel was not fit that our team faced the disaster there? We must not be courting disasters like this."

Another piece of sterling advice from one of the most successful captains India has had was that Sachin Tendulkar must always open for the side.

The captain must stop playing him up and down the batting order, he insisted. Sachin and Sourav Ganguly can be the best opening pair for India, Azharuddin said, adding that the left and right combination gives bowlers a tough time.

"The two One-day series preceding the World Cup must be regarded as the crucial run-up" was what Azharuddin did not forget to tell Team India, rather low on morale as of now.

"We must really, really aim at winning all the eight matches (in the four-match series against West Indies as well as Sri Lanka). Wins will boost the team's - particularly the youngsters' - morale, something we so sorely need at present. Defeats, which will surely draw a lot of flak, will have a demoralising effect," he said.

How is Rahul Dravid as captain?

"Oh, he is there barely for a year - too short a time to judge anybody's performance at the helm," Azharuddin said.

In fine fettle at 39 - he made full 15 rounds of the VCA ground as a part of his workout - Azharuddin, who happened to come here in connection with some contract with a gadget making company. He met Indian cricket board vice president Shashank Manohar at the latter's residence here before coming to the ground.

Indiatimes