The World Test Championship (WTC) final saw India face a disappointing loss to Australia earlier this month. The defeat raised questions about the preparation and acclimatization of the Indian team, with critics pointing out that most members of the squad arrived in England just days before the match due to their commitments in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is currently the Director of Cricket at Delhi Capitals, has shattered the theory behind the loss with a powerful remark about Ajinkya Rahane.
In an interview with PTI, Ganguly strongly opposed the notion that the Indian team was undercooked due to the IPL. He highlighted the performance of Rahane in the WTC final, who was India’s top performer with scores of 89 and 46. Ganguly pointed out that Rahane also played in the IPL and performed exceptionally well throughout the tournament. He further cited examples of Australian players like Cameron Green and David Warner, who had also participated in the IPL and went on to excel in the WTC final.
Ganguly emphasized that there was sufficient time for the Indian players to adjust to English conditions after the conclusion of the IPL. He mentioned that this was not a new challenge for Indian cricketers, as they have previously transitioned from limited-overs cricket to Test matches. He believed that playing in the IPL should not be seen as a hindrance to performing well in Test cricket, as players should have the ability to adapt their technique and temperament accordingly.
The debate surrounding the impact of the IPL on the Indian team’s performance in the WTC final has been ongoing. Critics have argued that the lack of time and preparation in English conditions affected the team’s ability to perform at their best. However, Ganguly’s remarks suggest that he does not agree with this theory and believes that players can still excel in Test cricket despite participating in the IPL.
India will have the opportunity to bounce back as they prepare to face West Indies in a two-Test series in the Caribbean starting on July 12. The team will be looking to regroup and learn from their experiences in the WTC final, with the aim of delivering a strong performance against the West Indian side.
Overall, Ganguly’s comments offer a different perspective on the debate surrounding the Indian team’s performance in the WTC final. While criticisms have been made regarding their preparation, Ganguly believes that playing in the IPL should not hinder players from performing well in Test cricket. With different opinions and perspectives being presented, it remains to be seen how the Indian team will respond in their upcoming series against West Indies.
