Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly feels India can’t get a better fast bowling attack for the upcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup. With Jasprit Bumrah returning to International action, India has a potent pace battery with Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and seam-bowling all-rounders Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya in the mix.
It is a famous adage that batsmen win you games whereas bowlers win you the tournament and thus the role of India’s fast bowling unit is going to be crucial in the upcoming tournaments.
Bumrah has scalped four wickets in the two T20Is against Ireland and he will look to continue the good show in Asia Cup. Furthermore, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will look to give their best to the team.
Sourav Ganguly said on Star Sports, “It’s a very strong team. Bumrah is back, which makes the team even stronger. The bowling attack is very good – Shami, Bumrah, Siraj. You can’t get a better fast bowling attack. And the spin, Jadeja, the wrist spinner. Top batters. India is a fantastic side, who just have to turn up and play good, determined cricket during the Asia Cup and the World Cup.”
Ganguly further shed light on India’s number four dilemma. The former Indian skipper highlighted it is only a batting position and it is all about acclimatizing to the role.
“Number 4 is just a number. Anybody can fit in. So, I really don’t think I believed, even when I was playing, that anybody is born as an opener or at number 3 or 4. You know, I started in the middle order in one-day cricket and then went on to open because I was asked to do so by Sachin at that time as captain. I think it’s the same thing with Sachin. He batted at number 6 till his captain asked him to open, and he became a world-class player.
Ganguly, the former BCCI president, reckons India has numerous options to bat at number four and named Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul as potential batters to take up the batting position.
“So, anybody can play at number 4, you know? There is Virat Kohli who can bat at number 4, there is Shreyas Iyer, once he does well in the Asia Cup. There’s KL Rahul. India has enormous talent. I keep hearing that we don’t have this, we don’t have that, we have too much, that’s the problem, that you can’t decide. See, when you have too many homes to stay, you can’t decide which one is more comfortable for you. If you have one, you know that’s the place I can stay. So, I think number 4 is what Rahul and the selectors and Rohit need to do; decide that this is my number 4 and I will continue with him till the World Cup. One batting slot does not make much of a difference.”
India will begin their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on September 2.
