The BCCI President and former captain Sourav Ganguly has advised the Indian cricket team to take a look at record books to decide what to do after winning the toss in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand beginning on Friday (June 18) in Southampton.
On Friday at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, India and New Zealand are set to take on each other in the WTC 2021 Final to win the World Test Championship Mace in England.
Ahead of the big WTC Final, Ganguly said that India should opt to bat first if they win the toss on Friday while mentioning Team India has always won overseas matches when they have batted first.
Ganguly told Aaj Tak: “If you dig into the record books and see India’s best overseas performances (save 2021 Australia), we have always won matches when we have batted first. It’s about a choice whether you want to face the pressure first up in adverse conditions or wait for the fourth innings.”
He further added, “Look at Leeds in 2002 or 2018 South Africa, we batted first in bowling friendly conditions, soaked in the initial pressure, put runs on the board and that’s how won those games. Even Mark Taylor or Steve Waugh’s Australian teams rarely fielded even in seaming conditions. Maybe occasionally when the wicket used to be damp.”
The legendary cricketer also mentioned that Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will have a big responsibility to blunt the new ball attack by New Zealand and England, giving India a good start in the upcoming Test assignments.
He added, “Rohit and Shubman will need to give a good start. They have to at least bat 20 overs which will help Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant to work on the foundation laid by them.”
The BCCI President also hailed New Zealand for their 1-0 Test series win over England in England without their skipper Kane Williamson and premier pacer Tim Southee.
Ganguly said, “This is the best New Zealand team in last 30-35 years. They have beaten England in England. They will be high on confidence. India won’t have it easy as they are playing good cricket. It’s not just about the win but also about how solid they looked like a team.”
He signed off by saying, “They won without Williamson, Southee, and Jamieson. That’s why it was more satisfying and worth its weight in gold. I liked the new guy Will Young. He played a good knock in Birmingham against Stuart Broad and James Anderson. India will take some time to settle having not played a lot of games but it will be a good contest.”
(With PTI Inputs)
