Ganguly Predicts India as Favourites in Champions Trophy Final Against New Zealand
Former India Captain Highlights Impact of Government Policy on Team’s Travel
BNH NETWORK
Kolkata - Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on India's upcoming Champions Trophy campaign, asserting that the Indian team is missing out by not playing in Pakistan. Speaking at the Tata Steel Trailblazers sports conclave hosted by RevSportz, Ganguly clarified that the decision for India to play all its matches in Dubai instead of Pakistan is due to government policy and not the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the players themselves.
Key Statements by Ganguly:
- No Undue Advantage: Playing in Dubai does not give India an edge over competitors.
- Missing Out on Pakistan Pitches: Indian batters lack exposure to high-scoring pitches.
- Government Policy Decides Travel: The BCCI and players have no role in this decision.
Ganguly’s Take on India’s Champions Trophy Prospects:
Ganguly, who led India to a runners-up finish in the 2000 Champions Trophy and a joint-winner title in 2002, believes India will have the edge against New Zealand in Sunday’s final.
“New Zealand are the toughest opposition for India at the moment. Their batting and spin bowling are formidable. But I think India’s batting is stronger. We also have formidable spinners. India are the favourites. However, in a final, there are no favourites.”
India’s White-Ball Dominance & Red-Ball Concerns:
Ganguly praised India’s white-ball performance, highlighting the team’s back-to-back ICC finals in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the ongoing Champions Trophy.
“It’s an incredible achievement. How many teams reach three consecutive ICC finals? But in red-ball cricket, India needs improvement. That’s something Rohit Sharma’s team has to address.”
Ganguly on Leadership & Learning from Failures:
Reflecting on his own career, Ganguly emphasized the importance of resilience.“Failure is reality. I remember Rahul Dravid saying he failed 400 times out of 600 opportunities. In life, you will see more frustrating times than happy ones. The key is to wake up stronger and move forward.”
When asked about his expectations as India’s captain, Ganguly stated he had no set philosophy.“I had no expectations or philosophy. I only thought about what was best for the team. Changing the mindset and team culture to win abroad was the challenge.”
