Sourav Ganguly was the one who decided to bat first at Headingly on an overcast morning in 2002. It was a decision that even the great Ian Botham was hugely surprised by. Ganguly did so because he was playing his spin twins, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, and wanted them to bowl in the fourth innings.
Now, he is clear that India must go in with Ravichandran Ashwin in Perth, as he is their best spinner and will have real impact with the number of left-handers in the Australian line-up. Ganguly also bats for Virat Kohli, and says Rishabh Pant is India’s next-best red-ball batter now.
Part 2 of the interview:
Boria: There is a lot of talk on who to play among the three spinners. We have seen Ashwin miss out multiple times in the past. Where do you stand on this?
Sourav: There is no debate. Ashwin must play. Your best spinner must play. In Test cricket, play specialists. Also, against the number of left-handers in the Australian line-up, Ashwin is certain to have impact. Yes, there is [Ravindra] Jadeja and Washington [Sundar] and both bat well, but you must go in with your best spinner in the first Test. Play with specialist batsmen and bowlers, and that’s where Ashwin is my choice.
Boria: Virat Kohli, yet again India’s go-to man. He did not score much against New Zealand but the Australian conditions should suit him. Your take on Virat? He is a champion batter and he must be determined to make it count.
Sourav: Absolutely, he is a champion batter. And he has had success in Australia in the past. He scored four hundreds in 2014, scored a hundred in 2018 as well. He will want to make this series count, and he will also know this could be the last time he is touring Australia to play Test cricket. So, in every sense, this is a massive series for Kohli. I don’t want to read too much into the New Zealand series. The pitches did not allow good batting. In Australia, he will enjoy the conditions. There will be good pitches. I am backing Virat to deliver in Australia in this series.
Boria: In 2019, India had just lost the World Cup semi-final, and I remember having dinner with you in Manchester when you said Rishabh Pant will be India’s go-to red-ball batter. I disagreed with you then. But you have been proved right. What did you see in him?
Sourav: His special ability. He still needs to evolve and figure out his game in white-ball cricket. But in red ball, he is just fantastic. Look at the innings he has played in England, Australia and South Africa, and you will know he is a generational talent in red-ball cricket. He is India’s next-best red-ball batter after Kohli, and could have a huge impact in the series.
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Boria: A word on Jasprit Bumrah. He might have to lead in the absence of Rohit.
Sourav: I think he will be a good leader. From what I have seen of him, he looks involved, reads the game well, and bowls in the right areas under pressure in white-ball cricket, which tells you he is thinking the right things. So Bumrah should be a good leader for sure. And needless to say, he is a very important player for India. He will be the leader of that attack, and in good bowling conditions, he can have a defining impact on the series.
Boria: Dhruv Jurel – I liked the way he batted in the India A game. Did you have a chance to see him play and how do you rate him?
Sourav: He is a good young player. He looked good in the A game. Solid defensive technique. I would think they will play him in the first Test in the middle order. You need players with strong mental make-up and strong technique to make it count, and Jurel seems to be one who has a lot of mettle. See, people are writing India off. They did so last time as well. All this talk of 4-0 et cetera is on the back of the New Zealand series loss. But I am telling you, this will be a close series. Don’t rule India out. Twice in the last two series, we have beaten Australia. In 2021, with half of your players injured. A lot of these players have experience of playing in Australia. [Shubman] Gill, Pant have all toured in the past. India will compete. I am sure of it.
Boria: Finally, are you convinced about Sarfaraz [Khan] in Australian conditions?
Sourav: You have to give him a chance to know. How can you say anything without giving him an opportunity? Let him fail first. He has scored tons of runs in domestic cricket and has earned his spot in the team. No one has given it to him. So don’t write him off before you have given him a chance. Once you do so, then you will be in a position to judge. I am very clear – you must give him an opportunity to know how good or bad he is. Without doing so, don’t pass judgment on him.
Also Read: “Let him say whatever he likes”: Sourav Ganguly says it’s far too early to judge Gautam Gambhir