Weaker England bowling gives India edge: Ganguly
LONDON: The weather has set up things nicely for India. Great Britain is experiencing a proper heat wave, and from the cricketing point of view, it is making the pitches drier than usual. And, against a team from the subcontinent that thrives in such conditions, it has put the hosts on the backfoot.
As it is, this is a solid Indian team, which wants to become the most dominant team in world cricket. Having lost the top spot in ODI rankings to England in May, Kohli’s boys will look to regain it. But for that, they’ll need to win the series 3-0. Any other result will keep England ahead.
England have been conquered in the T20s and though they say the ODI series will be a different ball-game, the early signs are ominous for Eoin Morgan’s men. The England captain will be sweating over the fact that India have been a step ahead of England, in batting and bowling.
Sourav Ganguly, who did well as a player and captain in these conditions, is confident India will have a glorious summer and emulate the performances of his time. “England are a good side, they are a good batting unit.
But bowling is the weaker part of their game. India will fancy their chances against this English team (after) the way they won yesterday (Sunday), chasing 200,” said Ganguly, during the launch of his book, A Century is Not Enough, at Lord’s , where he began his Test career in spectacular style, marking his debut with a hundred.
“The Indian team has been doing well, enjoyed it (T20s). It is the start of a long series, first three ODIS, then five Tests, the team will do well.” He said the win at Bristol in the final T20 has set the tone for the series, but India will have to keep in mind that “different formats will have different challenges”. He, however, felt they are a good unit.
It is one year to the World Cup, which will be staged here.
India will try to firm up plans for the mega event in this series. As captain Virat Kohli pointed out ahead of the series, they have yet to get the middle-order sorted.
When Kohli batted at No. 3, the top-order looked solid but No 4 became a case of musical chairs. In the T20s, Kohli opted to bat at No 4 and pushed KL Rahul at three.
Ganguly feels No 4 is the right place for Kohli. “Kohli has been batting at No. 4, he is doing the right thing. That’s what he is going to do (going ahead).”
Rahul got a hundred at No 3 in the T20 series opener, delivering the opening punch on England. In the third game, Rohit Sharma got a dazzling hundred while Kohli chipped in with important runs at both Cardiff and Bristol.
With MS Dhoni back to his best at No 6, the India batting lineup is beginning to get a settled look.
The current batch is the envy of world cricket with the array of strokeplayers in its ranks. “They are a very good side. India have produced some top teams, they have won here before as well,” added Ganguly.