Eyes closed, I will have Rahul at four: Sourav Ganguly

Former captain Sourav Ganguly attacked the Indian team management for constant experimentation in the middle-order saying that it is hurting the “top-heavy” side.

Speaking after India’s eight-wicket loss to England in the deciding game at Leeds, Ganguly said India are over reliant on the top three of Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

“India are too top heavy at the moment. If your top-order doesn’t get runs, then you are struggling. It is a big issue. You have to have quality like England have,” said Ganguly in a post-match show.

He also slammed the team management for not looking after KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane, India’s two current middle order batsman. They are not giving enough chances to someone like Rahul, who was dropped for yesterday’s match despite being in decent form.

“Eyes closed, I will have Rahul at four. Your top four have to be the best players and you got to persist with them. Go and speak to Rahul and say ‘we will give you 15 games’. Just go and play,” said Ganguly.

“They (the team management) are not giving enough opportunities at the moment. Rahul got the fantastic hundred at Manchester and now he was dropped. You won’t be able to produce players like that. Same for Rahane.

“These are your two best batsmen. You have to have solid number four and five. Then you decide between Dinesh Karthik or MS Dhoni at six and Hardik Pandya at seven,” said one of India’s most successful captains.

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Rahane was dropped from the ODI squad but remains a key member of the Test side. But playing either of Rahane or Rahul at four will ease the pressure on Kohli and Rohit, Ganguly felt.

“I think two of your best batsmen (Rahane and Rahul) are not being looked after properly. I am not saying it is deliberate but it is my opinion either of the two have to be played at four because it is too much of a pressure, especially on Rohit and Virat Kohli.

“In South Africa, India did well because Kohli got three hundreds. If he doesn’t get a hundred, you will have issues,” he added.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also said that if Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the team’s wicket-keeping choice for the 2019 World Cup, then he has to up his game. Dhoni failed to make any substantial contribution in the One-Day series and was subject to huge criticism for his slow run-rate.

“If Dhoni has got to play then he has got to get in a position where he keeps hitting. If it is 24-25 overs and he has got to build an innings, he is struggling at the moment.

“He may turn it around as he has been a great player for India but at the present he is not turning it around enough and this has been going on for more than an year,” said Ganguly.

He also added that it is time to look beyond Suresh Raina, who has been a flop ever since his return to the Indian team.

“With all due respect, I think there are better players around. He has played for a long period of time. He has got runs in ODIs, not many overseas, but India need to look ahead,” Ganguly added.