Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has lauded the exceptional performances of Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal in the recently concluded third Test against England in Rajkot. Their standout contributions were instrumental in India securing a significant victory, propelling them to a 2-1 lead in the ongoing five-match series.
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s extraordinary double century in India’s second innings played a crucial role in establishing a commanding lead. On the other hand, Sarfaraz Khan, making his much-anticipated debut, capitalized on the opportunity with impressive back-to-back half-centuries, marking a strong initiation into international cricket.
Despite Sarfaraz Khan consistently amassing runs in domestic cricket, his entry into the national team was delayed due to India’s formidable middle-order lineup. Sourav Ganguly aptly acknowledged Sarfaraz’s journey and commended Jaiswal’s standout innings.
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“Jaiswal is not only a good player, he’s capable of playing in all formats of the game. Sarfaraz has started well. He now has to score in foreign countries. Sarfaraz is a good example for budding cricketers, who must keep in mind that if they score consistently, they will get their chances,” remarked Sourav Ganguly in an interaction with Mid Day.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s departure from the Test series midway due to personal reasons tested India’s resilience, but Ganguly noted India’s confidence, stating, “India are so confident that they allowed R Ashwin to go back home in the middle of a Test. India looks much more motivated in this series.”
England, facing a challenging situation with their initial lead turning into a deficit, received skepticism from Ganguly about their prospects in the remaining series. He emphasized the difficulty for England to find success in Indian conditions despite their Bazball approach, expressing surprise if India were to lose the series.
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The Indian team, currently playing without Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, features a young squad with numerous new faces, making England’s struggle even more notable. Looking ahead to the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, where Rohit Sharma is set to lead India, Ganguly endorsed the decision. He highlighted Rohit’s exceptional leadership during the 50-over World Cup, where he led the Indian team to victory in 10 matches.
“Rohit Sharma is the right choice as India captain for the T20 World Cup. The way he led the Indian team and won 10 matches in the 50-over World Cup is still fresh in our memory. So, Rohit was the best choice,” concluded Sourav Ganguly.
