Can India Secure a Win Against England in the First Test? Sourav Ganguly Weighs In!

Ganguly's Insights on India's Test Match Strategy

Kolkata: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly emphasized the necessity for India to clinch a victory in the first Test against England, especially after a strong start, as such chances are rare. On Saturday, he remarked on India's impressive first innings total of 471 runs, achieved after being invited to bat, with notable centuries from Yashaswi Jaiswal, captain Shubman Gill, and Rishab Pant.

Ganguly expressed that India was well-positioned to reach the 600-run milestone after ending the first day at 359 for three. He noted, “No one anticipated Headingley to be this dry. However, if they reach 600, the pitch may start to behave unpredictably. India must secure this win; opportunities like this are not frequent.”

In terms of team selection, Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh were left out of the playing XI. Ganguly mentioned he would have opted for Arshdeep over Prasidh Krishna, stating, “Kuldeep will take his time. It’s a lengthy series. I would have chosen Arsh due to his left-arm angle. But it’s fine; they are competent players.” He also highlighted the importance of Ravindra Jadeja performing well, particularly since he tends to struggle in away matches.

England's bowling attack has changed significantly, lacking the experience of former players like James Anderson and Stuart Broad. The current lineup includes Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and captain Ben Stokes.

Ganguly observed, “They tend to bowl short. Yesterday, they were primarily bowling short deliveries to Shubman Gill. But it’s alright; they will adapt. It’s just the first Test.” When asked about his expectations for India winning the series 3-1, he replied, “It’s too early to make such predictions.”