During a special conversation with Star Sports, the former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly provided insightful thoughts on the prowess and promise of the Indian cricket squad. Ganguly commended the current combination of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj in the Indian fast bowling department, calling them as an evident and powerful force to be reckoned with.
Ganguly engaged in a debate concerning the team’s great characteristics and highlighted their strong qualities, particularly with the comeback of Jasprit Bumrah. He put attention on the prowess of India’s bowling attack, lavishing praise on the qualities of Jasprit Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj, depicting them as a formidable team.
Furthermore, Ganguly poured compliments on the spin selections, singling out Jadeja and the wrist spinners for notice. He also complimented India’s batting lineup as excellent. In terms of a continuous issue, Ganguly provided his perspective on the much-debated number 4 batting position. Drawing from his own experiences, he pointed out that any player with skill and desire can excel in that capacity. He emphasized that set positions are not set in stone. Reflecting on his personal experience along with Sachin Tendulkar, where they modified their batting positions at different times of their careers, Ganguly underscored the value of adaptability and fundamental skill.
Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of India, discussed the qualities of the Indian side, he said:
“It’s a very strong team. Bumrah is back, which makes the team even stronger. The bowling attack is very good – Shami, Bumrah, Siraj. You can’t get a better fast bowling attack. And the spin, Jadeja, the wrist spinner. Top batters. India is a fantastic side, who just have to turn up and play good, determined cricket during the Asia Cup and the World Cup.”
Additionally, Sourav Ganguly discussed the predicament that India encounters concerning the choice of the batsman for the number 4 position, he said:
“Number 4 is just a number. Anybody can fit in. So, I really don’t think I believed, even when I was playing, that anybody is born as an opener or at number 3 or 4.”
“You know, I started in the middle order in one-day cricket and then went on to open because I was asked to do so by Sachin at that time as captain. I think it’s the same thing with Sachin. He batted at number 6 till his captain asked him to open, and he became a world-class player.”
Sourav Ganguly further goes on to mention the flexibility Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer provide for the team, he said:
“So, anybody can play at number 4, you know? There is Virat Kohli who can bat at number 4, and there is Shreyas Iyer, once he does well in the Asia Cup. There’s KL Rahul. India has enormous talent.”
“I keep hearing that we don’t have this, we don’t have that, we have too much, that’s the problem, that you can’t decide. See, when you have too many homes to stay, you can’t decide which one is more comfortable for you. If you have one, you know that’s the place I can stay.”
“So, I think number 4 is what Rahul and the selectors and Rohit need to do; decide that this is my number 4 and I will continue with him till the World Cup. One batting slot does not make much of a difference.”
