Sourav Ganguly, the ex-Indian captain, commended Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal for their performances in the recently finished third Test against England in Rajkot. The duo significantly contributed to India’s historic Test victory, the largest in terms of runs (434), giving them a 2-1 advantage in the five-match series.
Jaiswal secured his second double-century of the series, extending India’s lead, while Sarfaraz, on his much-anticipated debut, made a strong statement with two half-centuries. Sarfaraz Khan patiently awaited his opportunity with the national team, despite consistently scoring runs in domestic cricket.
The right-handed batsman, with a knack for accumulating runs, often found himself on the sidelines due to India’s crowded middle order. However, with injuries and availability concerns affecting the Indian team currently, numerous emerging talents from domestic cricket were summoned simultaneously.
“Jaiswal is not only a good player, he’s capable of playing all in formats of the game. Sarfaraz has started well. He now has to score in foreign countries. Sarfaraz is a good example for budding cricketers, who must keep in mind that if they score consistently, they will get their chances,” Ganguly said in an interaction with Mid Day.
Team India faced significant challenges when Ravichandran Ashwin pulled out of the Test after Day 2, departing for Chennai due to his mother’s illness. However, he made a return on Day 4, contributing to India’s successful conclusion of the match.
“India are so confident that they allowed R Ashwin to go back home in the middle of a Test. India look much more motivated in this series.,” Ganguly added.
England’s strategy has been a prominent discussion in the ongoing series, as anticipated. However, their initial series lead has transformed into a disadvantage as they head into the last two Tests. Critics in England have strongly criticized Ben Stokes and his team for their inability to adjust, yet a shift in approach seems improbable at this juncture.
“Bazball is good, but it’s difficult for England to be successful in Indian conditions. I will be surprised if India lose the series. Please remember that India are playing without Virat [Kohli], KL [Rahul]. It’s a young team with many new faces, and yet, England are struggling,” Ganguly explained.
England is the most recent team to secure a Test series victory in India, achieving a 2-1 win in the 2012 tour under the leadership of Sir Alastair Cook. Ben Stokes requires an extraordinary comeback to secure victories in Ranchi and Dharamshala, aiming to create a historic moment.
“Rohit Sharma is the ideal T20 World Cup captain for India”- Sourav Ganguly
Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has officially announced Rohit Sharma as the captain for Team India in the 2024 T20 World Cup, putting an end to various speculations. The situation was unclear as Rohit had participated in only a few T20I matches since the last World Cup edition in 2022.
In Rohit Sharma’s non-participation, Hardik Pandya assumed leadership, guiding the development of numerous young players in the renewed team. This squad is anticipated to bring an end to India’s ICC trophy dry spell later this year.
“Rohit Sharma is the right choice as India captain for the T20 World Cup. The way he led the Indian team and won 10 matches in the 50-over World Cup is still fresh in our memory. So, Rohit was the best choice,” Ganguly concluded.
India is placed in Group A of the 2024 T20 World Cup along with Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, and the co-hosts USA.
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