Boria– Coming to the question of home advantage. How do you see it- do you see it as pressure or do you think it will help India.
Sourav– The positive thing is in the last few editions of the world cup the home team has won so there is no such thing that home teams don’t win.
Boria– How are you seeing Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Virat wasn’t at his best in the last few years but had a very good IPL and is looking very good again. And Rohit as captain and batter will be massively important for India.
Sourav– Yes Virat is playing very well. He has looked very good in the last few months and is batting extremely well and will be India’s go to man along with Rohit Sharma. Rohit as captain is playing his first and last world cup. I am speaking about the 50 over world cup here which will come after 4 years. He could play T-20 but this is a different format. And he too has a superb record in world cups. 5 hundreds in the last world cup where he was brilliant. So both of them will have to stand up for India. In fact, all of them will have to stand up if India is to do well in this tournament.
Boria– Coming to the bowling department Jasprit Bumrah making a comeback after injury and a long lay off at that. How are you looking at it?
Sourav– I am not really worried because he has done that in the past as well. The break will actually mean he is fresh mentally and with some games under his belt he will have some bowling done. He is a fantastic bowler. One of the best ever. And he along with Shami will be fantastic for India.
Boria– Siraj?
Sourav– Siraj is a must. An absolute must. He has been really impressive the last few months. Siraj and also Hardik Pandya.
Boria– That was my next question- Hardik Pandya.
Sourav– I keep saying this the coach, captain, selectors must convince Hardik Pandya to play Test cricket. His bowling might not be required in India but away from home it balances the side out. He must play Test cricket away from home and bowl 10 overs a day. Hardik Pandya is very very important for India.
Boria– Spin?
Sourav– Spin will have a huge role in subcontinental conditions. The more the tournament progresses and the more matches are played on repeat pitches more so. Tracks will get tired and spin will come into play more and more.
Boria– The reason I asked you this is because leg spin or wrist spin has always been important in key tournaments?
Sourav– Yes absolutely and India has one of them in the squad and I am very confident Kuldeep will play a key role. Quality spinners in these conditions will be an asset for any team.
Boria– The way it is shaping up it is a huge opportunity for Shubman Gill. He has been built for greatness. How do you look at him?
Sourav– He is a huge asset for India. He has had a great year. Hundreds in all formats of the game and hundreds in these conditions. These are the kind of players who win you cricket matches and Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli are such kind of players. That’s why I said India is a very strong side.
India will always be favourites on home soil: Sourav Ganguly Exclusive on BWB
Cricket legend and former India captain, Sourav Ganguly shares his valuable insights on India’s World Cup prospects, player roles, and the art of handling pressure in this exclusive interview. From… pic.twitter.com/c5iJkZXe4u
— RevSportz (@RevSportz) August 31, 2023
Boria– I have to ask you this. We have seen Shaheen Afridi in Dubai. 150 kmph ball swinging in. India lost the battle in the first few overs. Virat was exposed early on and it was an issue. Does one prepare separately for someone like Afridi?
Sourav– He is a very good bowler but that doesn’t mean you can’t play him. At this level in international cricket you will get two such bowlers in every team. Afirdi and Nasim Shah for Pakistan, Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood for Australia, New Zealand has a couple. But India have the batsmen to play them. Pace, bounce, movement at the start of an innings is par for the course at this level in international cricket and these batters are good enough to play against such bowling.
Boria– When you played Pakistan in that high profile match in 2003 against the backdrop of Kargil for example what did you do. What was the mindset. Make me understand the mindset leading into such a huge game.
Sourav– We had a settled combination. That’s the most important thing. We were a very good team by then and had started winning. We were on song. We had some fantastic players. That’s why I keep saying don’t chop and change ahead of a major tournament. Have a set of players together for 1 year and let them win or lose and get ready as a team. Australia did not chop and change for years between 1999-2003 and that’s why they were so good. For that one year in 2003 we had won everything. We won in the West Indies, won the Natwest and except the blip against New Zealand on those pitches, we won it all. We went to South Africa as a very good team. That’s why it is important that we have our 14 by the Asia Cup, the same 14-15 that will play the world cup. It is key you know your combination and don’t keep chopping and changing till the last minute.