Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly revealed that he was in constant touch with the Indian players during Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Team India’s historic Test series win over Australia down under will go down as ages as one of the greatest Test series of all time.
After suffering a humiliating defeat in the first Test match at Adelaide, Team India despite being battered and bruised put together stellar performances and created history by clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year in Australia.
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Team India showed great character and application to register a historic victory at Melbourne (MCG) and a famous draw at Sydney (SCG) and then later became the first team since 1988-89 to defeat Australia at their fortress, Gabba.
The series saw the emergence of youngsters such as Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, and Shardul Thakur, who showed their prowess and helped India win the series.
Rishabh Pant, however, was the main architect behind India’s triumph. The 23-years-old set stage on fire as he played a few match-defining innings and was the leading run-scorer for India in the series.
Pant scored blistering 97 in Sydney, which helped Team India save the Test, and followed it up with an unbeaten 89 at the Gabba, which sealed a famous win for the visitors.
In an interaction with Sports Today, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said that he spoke to Ajinkya Rahane during every Test match. He lauded Rishabh Pant for the guts he showed in Brisbane Test.
"I back the players, personally speak to them, listen to them. When they were in Australia, I would speak to the captain during every Test match. The results are because of the players. What Rishabh Pant did on the last day in Brisbane was incredible. He showed guts and character," Sourav Ganguly told Sports Star.
Ganguly said that it’s his job and responsibility to speak to players and support them.
"The players relate to me because I have also played the game. Why can't I speak to them? It is my job. I am supposed to speak to my players. We don't hassle them. We are there to support them,” he said.
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Sourav Ganguly, who is known as one of the finest captains India ever played under, while recalling his era said that what happened in 2003 can’t be correlated with 2021. He added that even now when Team India is performing well he is part of it as a BCCI president.
“These are two different generations. This is a superb phase. We drew with Australia in Australia, beat England in England, and Pakistan in Pakistan. Won in New Zealand, too. It was a glorious phase.
“This team is doing so well. I leave it at that. What happened in 2003, can’t be compared with 2021. I was involved both times – captain and now the BCCI president,” he said.
Team India will next be seen in action when they tour England for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand followed by five-Test series against hosts.
(Sport star inputs)
