Former India captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his support for Rohit Sharma, stating he does not wish to offer any advice to the current skipper ahead of the crucial T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Instead, he extended his best wishes to the team.
During an event in Kolkata, Ganguly acknowledged India’s robust planning and expressed hope for a victorious outcome in the final. Reflecting on his own experience, Ganguly remarked, “I don’t want to advise him. I captained India in three tournaments, and I lost two. In one, I was the joint winner so I don’t want to advise him anything and just wish him the best of luck.”
Ganguly, who led India in ICC tournaments in 2000, 2002, and 2003, noted the team’s successes and shortcomings during his tenure. The Indian team, under his captaincy, shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy but fell short in the other two tournaments.
India’s journey in recent ICC tournaments has seen them come agonizingly close to lifting the trophy, with notable near-misses in the 2014 T20 World Cup final, the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-finals, and the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Ganguly offered a positive perspective on these performances, emphasizing the importance of consistently reaching the finals. “I look at it differently; at least you are getting to the finals. You can only win once you get to the finals. The positive thing is that India is not getting eliminated,” he stated.
Praising Rohit’s leadership and batting, Ganguly highlighted his impactful performances in the tournament, particularly against Australia and England. “Rohit has a record of winning five IPLs, which is a huge effort. The honour of winning the World Cup is more, and I hope Rohit does it,” Ganguly added.
Ganguly also underscored the critical role of India’s spinners, who have been instrumental in the team’s success. Kuldeep Yadav, in particular, has shone in the Super 8 stage, taking ten wickets at an average of 13.54 and an economy rate of 6.20. “The wicket has helped spinners in the West Indies, that is why teams have played with more spinners. India prepared that way. They brought four spinners so they knew that the wicket would turn,” he explained.
With South Africa also unbeaten in the tournament, the final promises to be a thrilling clash between two formidable sides. Ganguly concluded by hoping that India will emerge victorious, “I hope India finishes on the right side tomorrow.”
India will face South Africa in the T20 World Cup final on Saturday at the Kensington Oval, Barbados.
