BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on Saturday (November 7) heaped praise on KL Rahul, saying the Karnataka lad has the ability to win games across formats.
According to Ganguly, Rahul, who is the leading run-getter in the ongoing IPL with 670 runs from 14 innings, is cut out for Test cricket too.
It is worth mentioning here that Rahul has been named in India’s Test squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. His last Test appearance was against the West Indies in August 2019.
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“I have a lot of time for KL Rahul in Test matches and I am saying that as a cricketer. But, at the end of the day, it is the selector that decides who plays and who doesn’t play,” Ganguly said on India Today’s programme ‘Inspiration’.
While most of Rahul’s runs for KXIP came in a losing cause, Ganguly hoped that his runs for India would result in wins.
“Just as somebody who has played the game, I feel he (Rahul) is someone, who will contribute in all forms of the game. I wish him all the luck. Hopefully, he contributes to the winning cause of India which is important.”
Ganguly once again reiterated that the Virat Kohli-led team needs to improve their performance in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries.
“He (Virat) must sit back and understand that he has to play better away from home. Yes, Australia was a good series that they he had won (in 2018-19) but they should have done better in South Africa, England (both 2018) and New Zealand (2020),” he remarked.
The key to winning an overseas series lies in batting well, which happened in Australia during the previous tour.
“They are a capable side and they must have learnt from that. Everyone has to bat well. We lost in England because no one got Test match hundreds apart from Virat Kohli, Pujara.
“We won in Australia because Pujara got you 500 runs, Virat got a hundred, Pant got a hundred. That’s how you are going to win the series. Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon are good bowlers.
“They need to fight hard and buckle down. This is a good side and everyone has to get together to beat Australia in Australia,” Ganguly said.
(With PTI inputs)
