England vs India: Sourav Ganguly warns Virat Kohli against chopping and changing team after opening Test debacle

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly warned Virat Kohli against chopping and changing the playing XI ahead of India’s second Test match in Lord’s on August 9.

India suffered a heart-breaking 31-run defeat in opening Test against England at Edgbaston with almost all of the Indian batsmen sans Kohli struggling against the moving ball. The Indian skipper was a class apart from the rest as he smashed his way to a brilliant 149 and followed it with another half-century.

Despite his heroics, the visitors, however, failed to cross the line as most batsmen perished in trying to play across the line against the moving ball. Ganguly though feels that one Test should not decide their future and that the team captain and management must have faith in the players.

“The captain should give confidence to his players. It’s his team & only he can change their mindset. He will have to sit with them & tell them that if he can do it so can they. He should give them time & tell them to go out & play without any fear. It is true that after continuous chopping & changing of the playing XI, players can get afraid that after all these years they’ve failed to garner the faith of the team management,” said Ganguly in his Instagram post on Saturday night.

Also Read: England vs India: Nasser Hussain asks Virat Kohli to take responsibility for Edgbaston loss

He also backed both Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane to score runs. Vijay for the past couple of years has been India’s seasoned Test campaigner and is considered to be one the best batsmen in the team, while Rahane has been India’s best bet in overseas conditions. His 100 against England at Lord’s that paved the way for a historic win four years ago, is still fresh in the minds of many.

“If you’ve to win a Test then everyone has to score runs. The other batsmen have to score 100’s as well. Kohli played very well otherwise India would have been out of the match on the 2nd day itself. This was the first Test in a 5 match series & I think this team has the capability to come back & play well. Ajinkya Rahane & Murali Vijay will have to show some determination since they have scored runs in these conditions before,” added the left-hander saying that failure to read swing can’t be an excuse.

If you’ve to win a Test then everyone has to score runs. The other batsmen have to score 100’s as well. #ViratKohli played very well otherwise India would have been out of the match on the 2nd day itself. This was the first Test in a 5 match series & I think this team has the capability to come back & play well. #AjinkyaRahane & #MuraliVijay will have to show some determination since they have scored runs in these conditions before. I don’t think the captain is responsible for the loss. If you’re the captain then you’ll be criticised for a loss the same way as you’re congratulated for a win. One criticism for @Virat.Kohli is that he should give a consistent run to his batters & more time before dropping them. The failure against swing in English conditions can’t be used as an excuse any more as everyone knows that its what you get when you come to England. You can’t be excused all the time & we have lost before in 2011 & 2014. You’ve to bat well. It’s a very well known fact that the ball will swing in England the same way as Australia is known for its pacy wickets. So if previously you’ve scored runs there is no reason you can’t now. The captain should give confidence to his players. It’s his team & only he can change their mindset. He will have to sit with them & tell them that if he can do it so can they. He should give them time & tell them to go out & play without any fear. It is true that after continuous chopping & changing of the playing XI, players can get afraid that after all these years they’ve failed to garner the faith of the team management.” The good thing about the great teams of the past – whether it be #Australia, #SouthAfrica or our very own team which won the Test series here in 2007 – was that the boys used to play both formats of the game – #SachinTendulkar, #RahulDravid, #VirenderSehwag, including myself. So even if you played badly in 1 or 2 matches you got a lot of time to get back into form at the international level. Playing & scoring 150 in first-class cricket can’t compensate for international cricket. In this team no batsman except Virat plays all the formats. – SG

A post shared by Sourav Ganguly (@sganguly99) on Aug 4, 2018 at 8:06pm PDT

“It (failure to read swing) can’t be excused all the time & we have lost before in 2011 & 2014. You’ve to bat well. It’s a very well-known fact that the ball will swing in England the same way as Australia is known for its pacy wickets. So if previously you’ve scored runs there is no reason you can’t now.”

Ganguly, who remains one of the only five batsmen to score a debut Test century at Lord’s also advised the current Indian skipper to talk to his batsmen and back them to play fearless cricket. “One criticism for Virat Kohli is that he should give a consistent run to his batters & more time before dropping them.

Also Read: England vs India: Personal milestones ‘doesn’t matter in larger picture,’  says Virat Kohli’

He also felt that players who play in all the formats of the game do not struggle much as they even after one-two poor matches gest abundant of time to get back among runs. Drawing an example of the great Australian, South-African and Indian teams, he pointed out about how only Kohli remains the sole Indian Test player who plays in all formats of the game. He then went on to encourage the current bunch of players to remain confident of themselves.

“The good thing about the great teams of the past – whether it be Australia, South Africa or our very own team which won the Test series here in 2007 – was that the boys used to play both formats of the game – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag, including myself. So even if you played badly in 1 or 2 matches you got a lot of time to get back into form at the international level. Playing & scoring 150 in first-class cricket can’t compensate for international cricket. In this team no batsman except Virat plays all the formats,” he wrote in a long post on Instagram.