Former Indian captain is confident about Indian team for BGT

The former Indian captain is confident about the Indian team for the crucial upcoming away Test series against Australia. He is hopeful of Indian batters' performances on the better Australian batting track. 

India recently suffered a shocking 3-0 home Test whitewash against New Zealand. The Blackcaps stunned everyone with their performances, especially when Kane Williamson wasn’t present in all three Tests of that series.

Watch: Virat Kohli reveals his best Test knock in Australia

In Australia, the tracks will be good for batting: Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and the former BCCI president, feels that the “undercooked” term doesn’t justify the Indian team, as they recently played five home Tests. 

Ganguly told PTI, “Undercooked is a term used when you haven’t played any Test cricket at all. They have just played five Tests in last seven weeks so how does the question even arise?”

Despite the shocking home whitewash in the Test series against New Zealand, Ganguly pointed out the major differences between that home Test series and the upcoming away Test series against Australia.

The former BCCI president added, “I can understand that the defeat against New Zealand was unexpected but you have to understand we played on some extremely difficult tracks. In Australia, the tracks will be good for batting." 

Shubman’s injury is jolt for the team

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25, Australia and India will play a five-match Test series, starting on November 22. Perth will host the Test series opener, where the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill can’t participate. Ganguly admitted that Gill’s injury is a jolt for the team, but he has enough faith in the other players.  

Ganguly said, “Shubman’s injury is jolt for the team no doubt as he is an in-form batter and has scored in Australia. A thumb fracture could rule him out for two Tests.

“But I believe the other batters would step up in absence of Rohit (on paternity leave) and Shubman during the first Test. I don’t think New Zealand defeat would have any bearing on this series."

Ganguly on Nitish Kumar Reddy

Talking about the team combination, Ganguly feels that the first Test at Perth and the third Test at Gabba shouldn’t go with two specialist spinners. In these matches, India can use players like the pace-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently played three T20Is during the Bangladesh tour of India last October. 

Ganguly said, “Look, there is absolutely no point in playing two specialist spinners either at Perth (Optus) or at the Gabba (Brisbane). You obviously need to find a way to play Reddy in these conditions. He is a good batsman and coming in at lower middle order, it will lend proper balance to the side." 

Ganguly on Mohammed Shami's return

Meanwhile. Ganguly is very happy with Mohammed Shami’s return to the game after almost a year and feels that the pacer is ready for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

Ganguly claimed, “Shami bowled nearly 45 overs, fielded for more than 100 overs and also scored some runs. That’s a good enough fitness test to be sent to Australia because you need a bowler of his calibre alongside Jasprit Bumrah."