Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly showered praise on the team’s depth and assertiveness, highlighting the remarkable performances of emerging talents amidst the absence of key players.
“India were so confident that they allowed Ravichandran Ashwin to go back home in the middle of a Test,” remarked Ganguly, emphasizing the team’s self-assurance and unity. Despite the absence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, India showcased their resilience, with debutants Sarfaraz Khan and Dhurv Jurel earning plaudits for their stellar contributions.
Ganguly’s admiration extended to the explosive batting display of Sarfaraz and the solid wicket-keeping skills of Jurel, emphasizing their crucial roles in India’s victory.
“Jurel helped Ravindra Jadeja complete the run-out dismissal of Tom Hartley,” Ganguly remarked, highlighting Jurel’s contribution behind the stumps.
The cricketing legend also lauded Yashasvi Jaiswal’s exceptional double century, stating, “Jaiswal is not only a good player, he’s capable of playing in all formats of the game.” Ganguly highlighted Jaiswal’s potential as a future star for India.
‘Bazball is good, but…’
The defeat in Rajkot left England reeling, with their aggressive Bazball approach facing scrutiny after suffering their biggest defeat in terms of runs since 1934.
“Bazball is good, but it’s difficult for England to be successful in Indian conditions. I will be surprised if India lose the series. Please remember that India are playing without Virat [Kohli], KL [Rahul]. It’s a young team with many new faces, and yet, England are struggling,” Ganguly pointed out, expressing confidence in India’s ability to dominate the series.
The historic milestone of 500 Test wickets by veteran spinner Ashwin added to India’s triumph in Rajkot. However, Ashwin’s unexpected departure mid-Test to attend to his ailing mother underscored the team’s values of prioritizing family commitments amidst their on-field success.
Yashasvi Jaiswal – A mixture of Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly