He has been with the Indian cricket team through some of its most memorable triumphs and long-serving manager Ranjib Biswal feels the side's good run of the past two-three years has a lot to do with the influx of small-town boys.
Biswal, who was the team's manager during the 2011 World Cup, the 2012 Asia Cup and the recent Champions trophy, said cricketers from small towns were making an impact was a good sign for the game.
"Those who stay in metros are overconfident. I appreciate the boys from small town, they don't have fear in them. They are there to prove something but the boys from metros get laidback. See the performance of Umesh Yadav, (Ravindra) Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they are all from small towns which proves cricket is not a game of metros only," said Biswal.
Biswal was a team selector when Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Team India to the first Twenty20 World Championships in 2007. Having seen Dhoni grow and evolve as a captain, Biswal said he is the best captain that India could ever have.
"He (Dhoni) remains calm and expressionless while on field and gives youngsters a chance by encouraging them, boosting their confidence. Outside the field he has his share of jokes and fun and that is what makes him the best Indian captain ever," Biswal said.
"He is the lucky mascot for the Indian Cricket," he added.
