By Boria Majumdar
The first Test between England and India will start in Leeds on June 20, 29 years to the day since a certain Sourav Ganguly (and Rahul Dravid) made his Test debut. He announced himself on the big stage with an accomplished 131, a knock he followed up with 136 at Trent Bridge. Having drawn a series in England as captain in 2002, Ganguly spoke exclusively to Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, about the unique challenges that India will face in England, and how Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness is key to Shubman Gill enjoying a winning start as skipper.
Boria: You give us a chance?
Sourav: Yes, sure. We just need two things, batting well and [Jasprit] Bumrah remaining fit.
Boria: But with this batting lineup, you think we can? Young captain and all of that?
Sourav: Yes, why not? We won in Australia, in Melbourne (2020-21), with a young batting line-up, having no [Virat] Kohli, no Rohit Sharma. So, I do not see why we cannot win.
Boria: I remember a conversation where you told me Rishabh Pant will be the best Test batsman in the next five years. I didn’t believe you then. Your thoughts today when he is actually a very good batter?
Sourav: He’s a very good player, but he has to continue playing the way he played a few years ago. I saw him in Australia, and I didn’t like what I saw. Too many shots. He kept swinging. The ball decked around at certain venues. He has got the ability, there is no doubt about that, but it’s about the application. I want to see some more fight from him.
Boria: He has a good defence.
Sourav: Yes, that’s what I’m saying. He’s got a very good defence. So, he has to defend.
Boria: Shubman Gill as the captain.
Sourav: Wishing him all the best. I am sure he can work on his Test match batting. He is a top-order batsman. There is no Kohli, no Rohit Sharma, no Ajinkya Rahane. The batting line-up with Yashasvi (Jaiswal), (KL) Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman himself, there’s Karun Nair, it’s absolutely amazing – how things change over a period is unbelievable. He is the key senior member, captain, so as I said, he’s also got to fight in these conditions. These are not conditions where you just hit through the line. It’s going to seam, swing, new ball will be different. There can be time when India is 10 for 2, and he has to come and play the new ball, so the application will be different. So, these conditions will test them and make them too.
Boria: What are the things that Shubman has to get right in his Test batting? If you could elaborate a bit?
Sourav: Well, he needs to score a bit more runs in these conditions when it.s seaming and swinging. It is going to be a bit difficult upfront with the new ball. Batting at 100 for 2 and 20 for 4 are two different things, so he has to get the defence right, learn how to leave deliveries outside the off stump. England is a place where you need to be on the front foot quite a bit. It’s not Australia or South Africa, where you can hang on the back foot and still play. In New Zealand and England, it’s going to swing and seam, so you’ve got to be on the front foot and have a good defence. You’ve got to fight here, where first hour, post lunch, post tea would be different. So, you can’t be 50-4 in the first two hours. You’ve got to be 50-1, then you are in a position to win the Test match, and I think that’s where India needs to be.
Boria: Thoughts on Sai Sudharsan, as a left-hander scoring two back-to-back hundreds?
Sourav: A lot of people are saying it’s a young team, but as Rahul [Dravid] and me came in 1996 and went back as two successful players, so nothing stops Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair. They can return as superstars. For me, it is an opportunity, as there is nothing as pressure in sports. It is always an opportunity. In simple language, I want to see good, tough, tight batting in these conditions. Not hit through the line, not hit on the up, not play the loose shot outside off stump, because these conditions will test them.
Boria: You have watched Sai Sudharsan quite a bit.
Sourav: Very good player, but IPL, white-ball and Test cricket in England are different. But I think he has got the technique and temperament. He scores in big matches. Again, for him, nothing changes – fight hard in these conditions, get through the new ball as he is a top-order batsman.
Boria: Quite a lot of people are talking about Kuldeep Yadav being the X-factor. Your thoughts on that?
Sourav: Maybe, but late in the game. First day, second day, it is going to be Bumrah, [Mohammed] Siraj, Arshdeep [Singh]. I hope he does well.
Boria: Do you want him in the playing XI?
Sourav: 100 percent. He has got the ability to be a good bowler. Left-arm spinner, he spins the ball back into the right-hander, which is never easy. Also hoping Bumrah remains fit for five Test matches. Even if it means giving him a break after the 2nd Test match, and then getting him back for the 4th and 5th, because a fit Bumrah will be very important. Also, Shubman Gill needs to understand to not bowl Bumrah into the ground. Use him as a wicket-taker, use him in short spells, so that he remains fit for five Test matches. And make sure the others [chip in] – young Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj has got tremendous fitness and ability, and is a warhorse. Make sure Bumrah is used as a wicket-taker. He has got to understand that, and I am sure Gautam [Gambhir] is there , and the senior players there, they will guide him.
Boria: Having multiple spinners in Australia did not work. Here, with Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy is bowling a bit more. You want 5 specialists? How would you want to go about it?
Sourav: Depends on how Nitish Reddy bowls. If he is able to give Shubman Gill 15 overs in a Test match innings, then he should play. [Ravindra] Jadeja will be one option because he has to bat after No. 6. So, for me, Jadeja No. 7, then Nitish/Shardul comes in, and then Siraj, Bumrah and Arshdeep.
Boria: So, there would be no place for Kuldeep?
Sourav: Maybe not be at this stage or [at] Lord’s, but maybe in Manchester when it starts getting dry and it’s the end of summer. I believe if seven batsmen cannot do the job, the eighth can’t as well. So, the top order has to take responsibility.
Boria: You tweeted on the 25th of March, saying “Shreyas Iyer is ready for all formats.” Can you elaborate?
Sourav: He has been playing at his best in the last one year, and should have been in this team. Last one year has been fantastic for him. He isn’t the player who got left out. He is now scoring under pressure, taking responsibility, playing the short ball well. Although Test cricket’s different, I would have had him in this series to see what he can do.
Boria: With Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer set to miss the first Test against India, do you think India would play against an inexperienced England attack and have a better chance that way?
Sourav: Absolutely. Very inexperienced batting line-up at the moment on paper. Obviously, on field, it’s different. With [Joe] Root, [Harry] Brook, [Ben] Stokes, [Ben] Duckett, Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse, it’s a good Test team. But still, nothing stops India from winning. There is no one favourite in sports. India, if they work hard and Bumrah stays fit even for four tests, will win this series.
Boria: Bumrah is the No. 1 fast bowler, but in Sydney, we saw him breaking down. How does one captain?
Sourav: You’ve got to look out for him and not make him bowl more than 12-13 overs. I believe four fast bowlers are important. Here, others will have to be the warhorses like Siraj, Arshdeep. Not sure about a Nitish or a Shardul Thakur. Maybe they can get some runs with the bat, but I think India need to back the seven batters and then back the bowlers, because we need 20 wickets to win Test matches.
Boria: Big series for Gautam Gambhir?
Sourav: Yeah, didn’t have a great one in Australia, won the Champions Trophy . As far as red ball is concerned, yes, it is a big series for him.
Boria: Any predictions?
Sourav: I consider England favourites, but then I don’t believe in favourites. If India bat well, they have a chance.
Boria: Sourav, thank you very much, as always.
Follow Revsportz for latest sports updates
Catch the full interview here
🚨 Exclusive
“I want more fight” Sourav Ganguly opens up on his expectations from Rishabh Pant ahead of the five-match Test series against England.
Watch the full interview at 12 pm today@BoriaMajumdar @SGanguly99 pic.twitter.com/drxu7GJIts
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) June 11, 2025