Sourav Ganguly Discusses Mohammed Shami’s Return to the Indian Team and Expresses Some Nervousness
Sourav Ganguly Praises Virat Kohli as the Greatest White-Ball Player
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly recently spoke highly of Virat Kohli, hailing him as the “greatest white-ball player” and a “once-in-a-lifetime cricketer.” Despite Kohli’s recent struggles with form, Ganguly emphasized his incredible achievements, including scoring 81 international centuries. Ganguly made these comments during a felicitation programme for the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) players.
Surprise at Kohli’s Struggles Post-Perth Century
Reflecting on Kohli’s struggles after scoring a century in the Perth Test, Ganguly admitted to being surprised by his inability to capitalize on that milestone in the remaining matches of the series. However, Ganguly remained confident that Kohli would bounce back and perform well in the upcoming three-match ODI series against England and the Champions Trophy.
Optimism for Mohammed Shami’s Return
Ganguly also expressed his excitement at seeing pacer Mohammed Shami return to full fitness after a long injury layoff. He praised Shami as one of the best bowlers in the country, second only to Jasprit Bumrah. Ganguly supported Shami’s return to Test cricket and highlighted the importance of having both Shami and Bumrah in the bowling attack for the success of the Indian team.
Maintaining Focus Amid Criticism
In light of the recent criticism faced by Team India following their series loss to Australia, Ganguly emphasized the importance of staying focused on performance and maintaining a strong mindset amidst negativity and opinions from external sources. He urged athletes to find ways to keep themselves out of such distractions and stay focused on their game.
India’s Champions Trophy Contention
Ganguly expressed his belief that India would be strong contenders in the upcoming Champions Trophy, citing their impressive performances in the last two World Cups. Despite a lackluster series in Australia, Ganguly pointed to India’s success in white-ball cricket and predicted them to be favorites in the Champions Trophy.
Rohit Sharma’s Potential in the Champions Trophy
Ganguly also backed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to bounce back and perform well in the Champions Trophy, highlighting Sharma’s exceptional skills in white-ball cricket. Ganguly emphasized the need for India to focus on improving their Test cricket ahead of their series in England, acknowledging the challenges posed by different conditions and pitches.
Overall, Ganguly’s insights and support for the Indian team provide a positive outlook for their upcoming tournaments and series, emphasizing the potential for success and the need for continued hard work and focus on all formats of the game.