There is no reason why Australia cannot be beaten in WTC Final: Sourav Ganguly

Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India captain and ex-BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly on Tuesday lauded the move by the Indian cricket board to give Duke balls for training to the fast bowlers during IPL 2023, who will be part of the test squad for the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia starting from June 07 at the Oval.

The former BCCI President congratulated the Indian team for winning the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2-1. The left hander sees no reason why Rohit Sharma and his boys cannot beat Australia in WTC final.

“Firstly, let me congratulate India for beating Australia. Secondly, India have beaten Australia in Australia, they have beaten them here. So, there is no reason why they will not beat them again (in WTC Final),” Ganguly told Xtra Time on the side-lines of Delhi Capitals practice session at JU campus in Saltlake on Tuesday.

On being asked what will be the key for India against the Australians at the Oval in June, Ganguly said, “You need to score runs. You put 350-400 on the board, you will be in a position to win.”

The former India captain heaped loads of praises on Shubman Gill, who scored 154 runs in the two test matches at Indore and Ahmedabad, including a hundred.

“He (Gill) has been brilliant for the last six-seven months. What else does he need to do? He is a permanent player now,” said Ganguly.

The former BCCI president also lauded Virat Kohli for ending his long 1205-day wait for a Test century while hoping the batting icon can continue producing masterclasses in the coming months.

According to Sourav, “It is exceptional. 75 hundreds at this level…nobody needs to say anything more. It is good that he is back to scoring runs. He has had a last good four five months for India. Hopefully, he will continue.”

There have been talks about Ishan Kishan getting an opportunity in the fourth test at Ahmedabad. But the Indian team management picked KS Bharat for the test match.

“Depends on what Rahul’s (Dravid) is thinking, how he wants to look at it. Ishan Kishan is an exceptional talent. My looking at the game is different from the Indian team management.

Talking about Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in the series, Sourav said, “He has been exceptional as a captain in this series.”