Kolkata: Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly minces no words when it comes to analysing the game. And in his latest column for the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, Ganguly feels that the current Indian team which has played 13 Tests at home has the ability to win abroad. “And having watched the last 13 home Tests, I hope Virat and his team really has the potential to win anywhere – in or outside India,” Ganguly writes adding that Cheteshwar Pujara will play an important role in India’s success outside the country. Team India recently beat Australia 2-1 in the four-match series.
“More than the results, I enjoyed the journey, watching how players like KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav gained in confidence and matched the two champions, Virat and Ravichandran Ashwin. But the one who stood out was Cheteshwar Pujara. I remember when he was dropped for a Test in West Indies last year, I had said Pujara was a special batsman and shouldn’t have been dropped. A small matter of 1,316 runs have come from his bat this season and Pujara will be the most critical for Virat when India start travelling outside of the sub-continent,” Ganguly writes.
Continuing with his praise on India’s skipper Virat Kohli, Ganguly mentions, “There are two Virats for me. The batsman and the captain. The batsman surely is one of the best in the world because he has set high standards for himself, both in terms of fitness and the hunger to score big. The captain is more passionate and more of a leader than anything else. He wants to win and win every day and while it may not be possible always, I see Virat not settling for anything that isn’t No.1,” he opines.
However, The Prince of Calcutta is quick to point out that emotions got the better of Kohli, the batsman against Australia. “Against Australia, probably he was so consumed by wanting to win as captain that he let his emotions affect his batting. This will also serve as a lesson for Virat. He’s such a precocious talent, I hope he cools down and gets back to scoring big again,” he writes.
And Ganguly is never short of words when it comes to praising the Indian team. Talking about the Dharamsala Test, which according to him was the highlight of the season, Ganguly writes, “I was sitting at home around lunchtime on Day Three when Australia began its second innings. Over the next hour or so, I watched such a great piece of fast and hostile bowling by the two Indians, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The way they got the Australians hopping and succumbing to the pace, I am so pleased for Virat,” he writes. On Yadav, he says, “Umesh is so confident. He knows what he’s doing and credit to Virat for making Umesh realise what he can do. When India travel to South Africa this year and to England and Australia the next, Virat will need his pacers to be fit and strong, and if he can get a good third fast bowler, behind Umesh and Mohammad Shami, India will be a threatening side.”
Talking about Team India coach Anil Kumble, Ganguly who was one of the three members that chose the Bengaluru leggie as Kohli’s team’s coach, writes, “When the BCCI appointed a three-member panel that had Tendulkar, Laxman and me to help in the process of selecting a coach, Anil’s vision was as decisive as his bowling used to be. He wanted India to win in India obviously, but outside of India too and while he knew it was easier said than done, his assessment of the situation was superb.” And he adds, “With him, I hope the spinners, who generally always do pick wickets by the bucket loads in India, contribute to the team’s success when they travel abroad, just like Anil and Bhajji did. That would fit the last riddle in the jigsaw puzzle Virat and his team will hope to solve.”