"Wrong move by BCCI to not play day-night Test in Australia," believes Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly also opened up on KKR's chances for play-offs in IPL 2018.

Sourav Ganguly and Virat Kohli | IANS

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to play Day-Night Test match against Australia at Adelaide from December 6-10. Cricket Australia had proposed the pink-ball Test to BCCI which was supposed to be their debut Day-Night Test match.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly isn't very happy with the move by BCCI. According to the veteran, it would have only helped India to get better. "Day-Night Test is the way forward. Every country has to play Day-Night Test. India have reservations but that's a long-term future for Test cricket," Ganguly told IANS.

"They (India) are a good side, they will win day-night Test matches also. There is no difference in day-night Test matches and day test matches. It's just a different ball. And they are such class players, they can win," he added.

India will face Australia in December for a four-match Test series. The men in blue will clash in limited overs cricket before that, which is a 3-match T20I series.

India's chief coach Ravi Shastri had intimated the Committee of Administrators (CoA) that the team will take at least 18 months to prepare for the Day-Night Test.

Talking about the latest debate of whether India skipper Virat Kohli should play the only Test against Afghanistan next month or he is right to head England for the county cricket, Ganguly said, "I think since the side is Afghanistan, he has chosen to play county. If it would have been any other team, he would not have gone. It just shows how important the England tour is for him. I have always maintained, a captain's recognition is how well he and his team does overseas."

"Virat Kohli as a batsman, there is no question. As a captain, he wants to win so that is the reason (he has gone to play county). India will still beat Afghanistan without Virat Kohli. And hopefully, they can do well in England," the southpaw added.

Ajinkya Rahane has been sidelined from India's limited overs squad and Ganguly is surprised. "I am surprised Rahane is not in the team. He should have been in the team. He has been moved around too much, he is a quality player," he said.

Speaking on the on-going tournament, IPL, the president of Cricket Association of Bengal said it won't be easy for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to come back after losing momentum at the end of the group stage encounter. "KKR are the good team but it looks difficult from here on. They have lost back to back games."

The former India batsman is not rating Ishan Kishan's 21-ball 62 against KKR yet. He will have to be consistent with that. "Too early to comment on Ishan Kishan. I saw him play the other night and he was brilliant. But one performance in T20 doesn't make you a fantastic player. he is talented. I hope he becomes consistent as he goes ahead," Ganguly said.

"Talent is there as you can see. You just don't get 21-ball 62 overnight against a good bowling attack," he signed off.

(WIth IANS input) 

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 11 May, 2018

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