Published: Jul 30, 2017, 04:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 30, 2017, 04:28 PM (IST)
Even with an impressive Test record as captain, Sourav Ganguly feels the Indian skipper Virat Kohli remains to be untested. India played as many as 13 Tests last year at home, and a series versus West Indies in the Caribbean, that hardly posed a threat to Kohli’s dominance. Ganguly has always maintained that real test of a captain is when he guides his team to win in overseas conditions. Kohli is currently leading the side in Sri Lanka, having won the first Test by a massive margin of 304 runs. Kohli says he overlooks bad patch; doesn’t let it affect his game
Ganguly in an interview to India Today said, “India are perfectly balanced with so much firepower in their batting, bowling and fielding. Sri Lanka on the other hand, have a lot to worry about.” He futher added, “The last two years they have been wonderful, especially away from home. Under Anil they won everything in the West Indies and then came the home season. I feel India won’t be challenged in these conditions. Kohli is absolutely right when he said in the post match ceremony that ‘they have been clinical in their performance.”
India are to tour South Africa and England late 2017 and early 2018, which will pose as a real challenge to Kohli and his boys. Ganguly explained, “Virat hasn’t been tested yet. Sri Lanka is probably not the strongest Test side at the moment. For me, the fans as well as for Virat Kohli himself, the yardstick will be how well his side performs in South Africa, Australia and England.”
Talking about Sri Lanka’s performance in the first Test, Ganguly said, “Sri Lanka have a lot to think about on how to get batsmen like Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane out. If they don’t bowl well they will have to field a lot in these hot and humid conditions.”
India will now play Sri Lanka in the second Test on Wednesday.
