If India continue to play like this, will be washed out 5-0: Sourav Ganguly

Everything has gone downhill for the Indian team since the start of the Test series and by the time they realized what was happening the Lord’s Test was already over. The visitors are 2-0 down and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly thinks if Virat Kohli & Co. don’t change things substantially, soon enough they will end up being whitewashed 5-0.

While the Indian bowlers have done really well and placed the team ahead in the contest, their batsmen, on the other hand, have not just arrived. Barring the skipper Kohli who played two gutsy knocks in the Edgbaston Test no other batsman has shown the kind of application required to succeed in difficult conditions. The likes of Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane have found the going tough and have been sent back before making any considerable difference in the game.

It can be 5-0

“If they continue to play like this, it’ll be a 5-0 affair (in favour of the hosts),” Ganguly told IndiaTV on the show “Cricket Ki Baat”,

The Lord’s Test match effectively ended in just two days, the first day was completely washed out, and at the end of the game on day 4, Team India had batted just 82 overs in their two innings combined. Ganguly was disappointed with their effort and said irrespective of the final result the team should at least go down fighting. The innings and 159-run defeat at Lord’s was a huge humiliation for the No.1 ranked Test side.

“When the T20I series started in England, we expected India will play well in the longer format also. When we won the ODI series in South Africa, we thought now there will be an end of defeats overseas. But it felt bad after the Lord’s defeat,” Dada said.

Chance of a lifetime to play at Lord’s

“While many don’t even get a chance in a lifetime to play in an iconic stadium like Lord’s, India got out twice inside just 80 overs. Wins and losses are part of a game, but there should be some fight. I couldn’t see that determination in India in the first two Tests,” he added.

Ganguly thinks it is not due to the technical deficiency but they lack the determination to give the opposition a fight. With the kind of experience their batsmen possess it should be easier for them to adapt now and should not be an excuse for the kind of show, they’ve put up thus far.

“Technique is one important thing, but you need to have the determination to fight. Murali Vijay has played around 60 Test matches, Shikhar Dhawan also has a good experience but he was dropped after the first Test. This is their fourth or fifth trip outside the subcontinent. A good batsman can adapt to these conditions very quickly,” the former skipper added.

Heading into Trent Bridge where they will play the third and decisive Test match, the 113-Test veteran feels the team should now approach at the remainder of the matches as a different series and play with a different mindset.

“India should go with a mindset that now it’s a three-Test series that is about to start for them,” Ganguly concluded.

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