Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain, believes that the Indian team won’t feel the loss of their star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, against England. He thinks that they have various backup options in the team. The Indian cricket team has been performing exceptionally well in the current World Cup, winning all five matches played.
Hardik Pandya hurt his left ankle while attempting to stop the ball on his follow-through during the match against Bangladesh. Later, it was revealed that he had a ligament tear. He didn’t play in the New Zealand game and is expected to miss the England clash and possibly a few more matches in the ongoing ODI World Cup.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the BAN vs NED game, Sourav Ganguly has expressed his confidence in the present Indian cricket team, stating that they have a brilliant squad with plenty of backup options.
However, he also highlighted his concerns about the poor form of the defending champions England and believes that Australia and South Africa could pose a threat to the Indian team in the ongoing mega event.
“India is a fantastic team and has lots of backup. I had initially chosen England for the semi-finals, but their performance has been below expectations. The championship is still a long way off.
“The league stage is relatively easier, but the real challenge lies in the knockout stage. Australia and South Africa are both strong teams that could potentially pose a challenge to India,” Sourav Ganguly said.
India, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand have been in fine form in the marquee event, producing some remarkable performances in the ongoing World Cup, while England and Pakistan’s performance has been below-par in the tournament, not making a strong case for the final four stages of the event.
I Expect India vs South Africa Match To Attract Even More Spectators – Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly expressed satisfaction with the sizeable attendance at the Eden Gardens to see the match and predicted a sold-out stadium for the highly anticipated match between South Africa and India on November 5th. He also expected a larger turnout for the Pakistan vs. Bangladesh match.
“Eden Gardens always draws in large crowds. It’s a fantastic venue with an incredible atmosphere. I expect the India vs South Africa match to attract even more spectators. It’s wonderful to see so many fans from Bangladesh here. I anticipate an even larger turnout for the Pakistan vs Bangladesh match,” Sourav Ganguly added.
The game between high-flying India and South Africa is scheduled to be hosted in the city and many fans and experts expect the match to be a closely fought one given their fine form in the tournament. Eden Garden is also scheduled to host one of the semifinals of the marquee event.