Saha is the best wicket-keeper in India; keep an eye on him: Sourav Ganguly

Oct 21, 2017 at 3:16 PM

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Saha is the best wicket-keeper in India; keep an eye on him: Sourav Ganguly

Team India’s skipper Virat Kohli is going through a purple patch in his career as a skipper of the national team. He has had a dream start to his captaincy career winning eight consecutive Test series and six successive ODI series, but even after tasting so much success in quick time, Kohli is eager to have MS Dhoni in the limited overs team and is regularly seen taking advice from the veteran cricketer.

Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly is of the opinion that Kohli will need Dhoni and the southpaw was hopeful that Dhoni would continue at least till the 2019 World Cup.

“I think so (Dhoni will continue till 2019 World Cup). The best part for Dhoni is Virat Kohli wants him. He’s 36 and he’s not the flamboyant MS Dhoni that we saw in Pakistan in 2004 but he’s a different player now. Kohli needs him not just as a keeper but in the leadership capacity as well; he has got the best view behind the stumps.

“Virat backs him and that’s what a player wants. His game has changed but that happens with everyone. With age you worry about your position, reputation and consistency and your game changes. Dhoni’s game has changed just like everyone else’s, even Sachin Tendulkar’s game changed with age. I think he can survive till 2019, he is fit and most importantly, he knows his captain will back him,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by India Today.

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni

The Men in Blue will take on the Kiwis in a three-match bilateral ODI series followed by a T20I series comprising of as many matches. The tour starts on October 22 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Kohli will look to continue his form both as a batsman and a skipper and will like to feel that another series victory is just around the corner.

Ganguly has always rated Kohli very highly, and it was no different this time around as well. He’s a remarkable cricketer. Nothing is behind the scenes for Virat Kohli, and that’s how captains should be. I like to see him on the field; he’s upfront. He will be criticised for it, but that’s what captaincy is all about. There’s transparency about Kohli, with him you know where you stand. Captains are also humans and they will like some players and won’t like some, that’s how it is because he has been given the job to captain India.

Speaking of India’s performances in the recent past, Ganguly said:

“India has been very consistent. Sport is all about consistency and this team has shown the potential, be it the ODIs and T20s against Australia or against England and New Zealand earlier.”

“They are ready, they just have to play well in that period (the overseas tours). The only thing they need to do is to keep the fast bowlers fit and good to go, they will come hugely. We have seen Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah but Umesh and Shami also need to be played, they need to be in the system,” the southpaw said.

Hardik Pandya. Image Courtesy: BCCI

Hardik Pandya has been a revelation for the national team in the recent past, and his all-round abilities have provided India with the much-needed stability especially in the limited overs side. Ganguly praised him for his temperament but wished to comment on him only after he has completed a year more in the international circuit.

“He looks good, bowling and batting both. I have always believed all-rounders should always get a place in the side and Hardik Pandya can be good. I like what I see but I will hold on my judgement, let him go around the circuit for a year or so and then we will find out. He has got the temperament and that stands out for me,” Ganguly said.

“He should follow Jaques Kallis, work on his game, stay quiet, take a backseat and just look on. He will get opportunities because all-rounders are so important and they balance the team. He gives Virat Kohli a fourth fast bowling option in South Africa along with three other quicks. He’s a huge plus for India, his batting technique looks good and with good fast bowling, I think he will stand up,” the former Indian skipper further added.

Speaking on MS Dhoni and his street-smart instinct Ganguly said:

“He’s different, not the orthodox one but you need to be different to be successful and he has that. He has learnt his craft with time but we must keep an eye on Wriddhiman Saha he’s better than MS at wicket-keeping, the best in the country right now. He bats at 6 or 7 for India so must keep an eye on him.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sharing Trophies, Youngsters, Virat Kohli, Team India, BCCI,
Dhoni has always focused on his game and fitness. Photo Credit: Reuters.

Ganguly also expressed disagreement at the selection of Dinesh Karthik who haven’t been part of the playing XI. Ganguly was also not impressed with the omission of KL Rahul who has made an impact in the last few years as a batsman.

“With Dinesh Karthik, I don’t really know what the Indian management is looking at. If they are going for a second wicket-keeper then fine but he can’t be a substitute for KL Rahul. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have been good in ODIs, Rahane has been brilliant in Test cricket and great in patches in ODIs but Rahul has done well in all the three formats; I am very surprised to see him dropped,” Ganguly said.

“I have a lot of regard for Dinesh as a cricketer, and he has a lot of runs in domestic cricket but he debuted in 2006 Under me, and this is 2017, and he’s still in and out of the team. Look at what KL has done in 3 years; he has stamped his authority all around the world. As far as I’m concerned, he needs to be back because he is your future.”

Dinesh Karthik
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