After registering a comprehensive 197-runs victory over New Zealand in the second Test, India overtook Pakistan and reclaim the number one position in the rankings. Pakistan had earlier overtook India when they played brilliantly in England to draw the four – match series 2-2.
Pakistan has been playing some good cricket in Test in the last couple of years. They have won series against Australia, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand but former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly thinks that the Indian team is far better than their arch rivals. Talking to India Today, Ganguly said that he was surprised to see Pakistan at the top of Test rankings.
“I don’t think Pakistan are India’s yardstick at the moment. India are a far better side than Pakistan in Test cricket. So I don’t think it could be a comparison. I was surprised to see Pakistan becoming No.1 after their 2-2 series against England,” Ganguly said.
“So I really didn’t consider that to be No.1 but I think this win is lot more satisfying for India and lot more satisfying for viewers like us and for people who played cricket for such a long time,” Ganguly added.
Meanwhile, Ganguly said that he is still not convinced with India’s number one ranking, saying that the team needs to win in every part of the world to assert their supremacy.
“I still don’t agree with the No.1 position because I don’t think India have won in Australia or England or South Africa or New Zealand. I didn’t agree with Pakistan’s No.1 position. In my era, Australia were the real No.1 Test side because they won everywhere,” he said.
Ganguly, who is one of India’s most successful captains, also heaped praise on current Indian skipper Virat Kohli who registered his ninth Test victory in only 16 matches.
It’s quite a lot of wins for Kohli already. He’s got 11 more Tests to play in India, he will be very quickly close to a lot of people in the next one year. But I think his real test will begin when his side goes overseas,” Ganguly said.
“He sets high standards for himself and I think he’ll set high standards for Indian cricket as well,” he added.
Ganguly also praised Kohli for not asking to prepare a favourable pitch.
“The best thing that I liked about Kohli in this Test match that not once did he turn up to surface and say that I want this and I want that. He just played on what he was given and he reacted to it, ” the Cricket Association of Bengal president said.