Internet Desk: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly extends his support to Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli who had faced much criticism after India lost the series in South Africa. Ahead of the start of the third and final Test at the Wanderers, in a column for TOI Ganguly said that the hosts has a lot to play for in the final Test at Johannesburg and added that he has no doubts on Kohli’s ability as captain.
During the second Test at Centurion, the hosts produced another dismal show, where no other batsman except skipper Kohli managed to put up some resistance against the Proteas pace attack. He played a magical knock of 153 runs in the first innings but it was not enough as India lost the match by 135 runs and series also.
“There is lot of talk going around about Virat Kohli’s leadership qualities. It is important to be patient as it is his first big overseas tour,” wrote Ganguly.
“Nobody really is a born leader and it is important that leaders are allowed to develop and grow. I am convinced Kohli will keep getting better at this. It is very important that as a leader you keep performing – that is the biggest challenge and this is where Kolhi has done remarkably well.”
Ganguly further suggested India to go with an extra bowler at the Johannesburg which Kohli also did as Bhuvneshwar Kumar is playing in place of star all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin.”The hype is obviously about the pitch, about what India will get to play on. The groundsman has spoken about a green pitch but till a ball is bowled, you can never say what the track will be like exactly. There is also word that India will play five fast bowlers but they will have to be very careful because spin will be useful in a five-day game and variation is also important in a longer format,” wrote Ganguly.