Former Indian cricketer and BCCI president, Sourav Ganguly feels that England doesn’t stand a chance to become the first foreign team since 2012 to win a red-ball series in India even if their Bazball style of play gets into its most lethal form.
Ganguly claimed that the Ben Stokes-led English team can’t script a comeback in the series and return home with a 3-2 turnaround win the 5-match Test series.
Sourav Ganguly made these comments while speaking to Mid Day recently and there he shed light upon the ongoing India Vs England series, the sensational performances from newbies Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan as well as the captain of India for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup later this June at the USA and West Indies.
He also made it very clear that Bazball is without a doubt very good but getting a result in their favor over here is just impossible.
“Bazball is good but its difficult for England to be successful in Indian conditions.” – Ganguly told Mid Day.
Ganguly shows no faith at all in an England comeback
The 51-year-old who has over 11,000 ODI runs for India, showed no faith at all when he was asked if England can stage a comeback after losing back-to-back Tests in Vishakhapatnam and Rajkot and being down by 2-1.
Ganguly claimed that there is no way the Three Lions can recover in the series at this juncture especially as India gained a lot of momentum with the 434-run win at Rajkot in the 3rd Test.
While England’s comeback victory by 28-runs in the Hyderabad Test was truly commendable, their performance in the last two Tests have been ordinary. They are lacking consistency in their batting line-up as Zak Crawley has remained hot and cold, and so has Ollie Pope. Ben Duckett looks like the only one to display the aggressive style of play consistently in the top order.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow are looking like a shadow of themselves, completely out of form and in dire need to get runs under their belt in the 4th Test if the visitors want to take away the series by 3-2. They are not even being backed by their own former cricketers with Sourav Ganguly claiming that he will be surprised if England wins. “I will be surprised if India loses the series.” – Ganguly added.
“Young team with new faces, yet England are struggling”, Sourav Ganguly ridicules Stokes and Co.
Sourav Ganguly who had debut scores of 131 and 136 in his first two Test innings at Lord’s and Nottingham, ridiculed the English team for not even being able to challenge this new look Indian team which has been plagued with injuries and personal leaves.
The Kolkata born former cricketer reminded England that India are without either of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and they are a team with new faces yet they are struggling. So just guess what would happen if India have a full-strength squad!
“Please remember that India are playing without Virat Kohli, KL Rahul. It’s a young team with many new faces and yet England are struggling.” – Sourav Ganguly concluded.