Published: Jan 29, 2019, 08:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 29, 2019, 08:14 PM (IST)
After winning the Test and ODI series in Australia, Virat Kohli-led India continued their winning run as they clinched the five-match ODI series with two games to spare against New Zealand. Impressed by the solid showing of the Indian team, former skipper Sourav Ganguly heaped praise on the team. (ALSO READ: ‘New Zealand are better than Australia, but India are too good’)
“It’s been a better performance than Australia. It has been complete domination and it’s good to see them dominate at home and away as well. The confidence has been great and it’s quite impressive to see the bowlers get them out in 50 overs. It’s been a great year for India in ODIs,’ Ganguly told India TV. (ALSO READ: The key numbers that highlight India’s ODI dominance)
While Mohammed Shami is enjoying a good run of form, the likes of Rohit Sharma and Kohli, who won’t play the final two ODIs and the subsequent three-match T20I series against New Zealand, have shown consistency at the top. The wrist-spinning duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal too bowled well, sharing 14 wickets between themselves. (ALSO READ: Things in the Indian camp are more or less running in auto mode for us: Virat Kohli)
Ganguly lauded the Chahal-Yadav combo and the Indian top order, saying, “KulCha have strangled the New Zealand batsman and overall the team has been excellent. Especially Rohit and Kohli, who have been so consistent, you don’t have such a top order in any other team in the world. India are ahead of other teams in ODI cricket. This might be one of the best World Cups we may witness.” (ALSO READ: What is India’s ideal XI for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup?)
Ganguly also had a word of advice for the opposition teams facing India and also said the likes of Rohit, Kohli, Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni have learnt to handle pressure.
“A team cannot defeat India if you’re putting on targets such as 200 or 250, the Indian batsman have shown the ability to chase down bigger targets. Whenever there is pressure, batsman like Rohit, Virat, Kedar or Dhoni respond with a six. They’ve learnt how to handle pressure,” said Ganguly.
